For years, the Los Angeles Chargers have been terrorized by the league's premier pass rushers.
This past season, the injuries to Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt left the team's offensive line flailing. They allowed 60 sacks on the season, and it was ultimately their inability to stop opposing pass rushes that led to their playoff demise.
For a number of seasons, many of these formidable pass rushers have called the AFC West home. But almost none has been more terrifying than Maxx Crosby, who has spent his entire career to this point with the Las Vegas Raiders.
Now, however, Crosby has been sent to the Baltimore Ravens, and Chargers fans can rejoice. Their worst nightmare has finally left the division.
Maxx Crosby's departure bring an end to a seven-year nightmare for the Chargers
When news broke that Crosby might force his way out of Las Vegas this season, it was hard to believe. Crosby has been one of the league's most intense and most skilled defensive players since his arrival with that organization in 2019.
He was as strong as ever in 2025, totaling 10 sacks, 73 combined tackles, and 28 tackles for loss through 15 games
The Raiders, moreover, are poised for a quick turnaround after finishing with a league-worst 3-14 record last season. His departure with a new quarterback and a new head coach coming in seemed implausible. Unless the Raiders got a package too strong to refuse, that is.
Baltimore provided exactly that, sending a pair of first-round picks to Las Vegas in exchange for the five-time Pro Bowler. It's close to the package of draft capital the Dallas Cowboys received last offseason for Micah Parsons, minus a productive player in Kenny Clark.
ESPN sources: the Raiders agreed to trade five-time Pro-Bowl DE Maxx Crosby to the Baltimore Ravens in exchange for 2026 and 2027 first-round picks.
The trade cannot be processed until next week, but it is in place. And Crosby is expected to be a Raven with two 1s back to Vegas. pic.twitter.com/rfExCLpXfF
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 7, 2026
Across 13 career games against the Chargers, Crosby has amassed 8.5 sacks, 16 tackles for loss, and 22 QB hits. Although Las Vegas hasn't seriously been a threat during that time, Crosby has certainly plagued Los Angeles each and every time they've played.
Their problems aren't entirely over. The Ravens are an AFC rival, and the Chargers will have to play them in Baltimore at some point in 2026. Their defense is truly shaping up to be a formidable force next season.
But they'll no longer be subjected to the pain of having to face Crosby twice a year. For that, Chargers fans can be grateful.