Maxx Crosby
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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - NOVEMBER 17: Maxx Crosby #98 of the Las Vegas Raiders looks on against the Dallas Cowboys during the second quarter at Allegiant Stadium on November 17, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
The Baltimore Ravens shook up the NFL world on Friday night with the news that they are trading for three-time All-Pro edge rusher Maxx Crosby from the Raiders. Trading for Crosby gives the Ravens a dynamic, dominant pass rushing force off the edge, the likes of which they haven’t had in a long time.
In 15 games in 2025, Crosby had 73 tackles, 10 sacks, two forced fumbles, an interception, and six passes defensed. From 2021-2023, Crosby didn’t miss a single game for Las Vegas and racked up 235 tackles, 35 sacks, and five forced fumbles, making three consecutive All-Pro teams.
In exchange for Crosby’s services, the Ravens are sending the Raiders the No. 14 overall pick in 2026 and their 2027 first-round pick as well. That’s extremely notable, as Baltimore just made history with this move.
The Baltimore Ravens Made History With the Maxx Crosby Trade
Maxx Crosby
GettyLAS VEGAS, NEVADA – OCTOBER 12: Maxx Crosby #98 of the Las Vegas Raiders celebrates after a sack against the Tennessee Titans during the second quarter in the game at Allegiant Stadium on October 12, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Candice Ward/Getty Images)
The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec noted on X/Twitter that the Ravens’ decision-makers have been meeting in Florida this week with team owner Steve Bisciotti. This is the sort of blockbuster, league-altering move that the Ravens simply aren’t known for. More than just the talent Crosby offers and the way he’ll change the Ravens moving forward, the trade itself is unusual.
That’s because, as both Zrebiec and ESPN’s Jamison Hensley noted, the Ravens have never traded a first-round pick for a veteran player in the 31-year history of the team. Not once. And not only did they send one first-round pick away — they sent two. Las Vegas will be picking with Baltimore’s selections in the first round in both 2026 and 2027.
Crosby is worth it, and as Zrebiec pointed out, the Ravens in 2025 had the fewest numbers of sacks they’d recorded in 15 years. Clearly, their pass rush needed to improve. But this is still a big, big move for a franchise that’s known to play it conservative in the trade market and values their draft picks highly.
Maxx Crosby Is a Huge Boost to the Baltimore Ravens’ Pass Rush
Crosby will join a solid group of pass rushers in Baltimore, but none of his new teammates are nearly as prolific at getting after the quarterback. Last season, DT Travis Jones led the Ravens in sacks with five, while Tavius Robinson had four and a half. Aside from rookie ED Mike Green and his three and a half sacks, no Baltimore player had more than two and a half.
Crosby has never had fewer than seven sacks in a season, and that came back in 2020 in his second year in the league. He’s entering his age-29 season, which is plenty young for an edge rusher, and he’ll be the best player on that defensive line immediately.
But the Ravens still have other needs, especially at wide receiver and along the offensive line, and now they don’t have a first-round pick to help with that. How Baltimore approaches free agency in a few days will be worth monitoring.