This was not something that any of us saw coming, but on Tuesday evening, news broke that the Las Vegas Raiders and Baltimore Ravens would not be going forward with the Maxx Crosby trade, as the Ravens had backed out of the deal. This gives 'free agency frenzy' and entirely new meaning.
Essentially, the Ravens did not feel comfortable passing Crosby on a physical. He is recovering from a knee injury, but this is something that the entire NFL world knew about. What this smells like, to me, is that the Ravens had some early buyer's remorse and did not want to go through with the deal, seeing as there are still pass-rushers out on the market who would not cost two first-round picks.
So, since the Ravens are out, the Raiders will, for the time being, keep Crosby but will not have those two first-round picks. There is still a chance that the Raiders could deal Crosby, but it's likely not going to be for two first-rounders, so let's create some new trade packages here.
Three new Maxx Crosby trade packages following bombshell update
Dallas Cowboys trade pick 20 to the Raiders for Maxx Crosby
You really have to wonder if the Dallas Cowboys would now entertain a deal for Crosby. Dallas would clearly not have to give up two first-round picks, and it's a very real possibility that their own medical team/doctors would feel comfortable passing Crosby on a physical.
Dallas has definitely begun to overhaul their defense a bit, and if you think about it, a defensive line featuring Kenny Clark, Quinnen Williams, and Crosby would be a massive advantage for them. All of a sudden, the Cowboys defense would be seen as one of the more talented units in the NFL if they were able to pull this off. Could pick 20 be enough to get it done?
Chicago Bears trade pick 25 to the Raiders for Maxx Crosby
The Chicago Bears are needing to still improve on the defensive side of the ball, as in 2025, we saw this team not get to the passer frequently enough and struggle against the run. Crosby is a complete player, so he's not only excellent at rushing the passer, but he gets into the backfield with ease and has always been top-notch against the run.
Chicago is picking with the 25th overall selection in Round 1 of the 2026 NFL Draft, and the odds that they'd be able to draft someone who is as impactful a player as Crosby are low. Furthermore, the Bears have Caleb Williams on his rookie deal, so they have every single reason to go all-in here.
One of the biggest advantages in sports is a franchise quarterback on his rookie deal, so Chicago should make this happen.
New England Patriots trade pick 63 and 95 to the Raiders for Maxx Crosby
A similar situation to the Bears, the New England Patriots also have a franchise quarterback on a rookie deal, but the Patriots made it all the way to the Super Bowl in 2025, only further emphasizing the need to be aggressive this offseason.
I would not be shocked if there were teams that wanted Crosby on their squad but also don't want to give up a first-round pick. A second and third-round pick might seem pretty light, but it's still two selections in the top-100 picks, and Crosby himself might still want to be moved.
The Raiders actively sought out trade partners, so this team was obviously willing and able to trade him. I don't see how that could just disappear, so the Raiders may end up not having much leverage in negotiations and may have to take what they can get.