Tom Brady's Las Vegas Raiders agreed to trade pass-rushing star Maxx Crosby to the Baltimore Ravens for two first-round picks in the next two upcoming NFL Drafts
22:41 ET, 06 Mar 2026Updated 22:42 ET, 06 Mar 2026
Tom Brady speaks on the phone during the 2026 Winter Olympics.
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A frustrated Maxx Crosby forced Raiders owner Tom Brady to trade his defensive star to the Baltimore Ravens
Tom Brady's new era of influence with the Las Vegas Raiders finally lost a bit of its shine on Friday after the franchise agreed to trade defensive cornerstone Maxx Crosby to the Baltimore Ravens.
The ex-Raiders Pro Bowl star will head to Baltimore in exchange for first-round picks in both the 2026 and 2027 NFL Drafts. The Ravens had the No. 14 overall pick, which can't be fully processed until the appropriate window opens next week.
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The logistics for the deal are reportedly already in place. The trade is huge as Crosby signed a three-year, $106.5 million extension with the Raiders almost exactly one year earlier. But the relationship between the star EDGE rusher and the organization weakened late last season after the Raiders shut him down for the final two games without his consent, while it recently emerged there was a rift behind the scenes involving Brady's right-hand man.
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The team stated the decision was due to a knee injury that eventually required surgery in January. Crosby reportedly left the team's facilities furious over the decision.
Sources around the team implied Crosby was upset by the decision and even more concerned about the franchise's approach to yet another rebuild under Brady-appointed new head coach Klint Kubiak.
Crosby's desire to play for a championship contender reportedly played a major role in the move. Since entering the NFL in 2019, the defensive end has appeared in the playoffs only once, when the Raiders lost in the Wild Card round following the 2021 season.
Maxx Crosby chats with Tom Brady on the sidelines
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Crosby was traded to the Ravens in exchange for two first round draft picks
Baltimore has qualified for the postseason five times since 2019 and reached the AFC Championship Game in 2023. The NFL admitted to referee errors during the Ravens' loss to the Steelers that caused their first playoff loss since 2021.
In seven seasons, Crosby has compiled 69.5 sacks, 133 tackles for loss, 164 quarterback hits, and dozens of bone-shattering hits on Kansas City Chiefs star QB Patrick Mahomes. The EDGE rusher has also earned Pro Bowl honors every season since 2021.
Crosby also finished among the top contenders in Defensive Player of the Year voting in both 2022 and 2023 while consistently ranking near the top of the league in tackles behind the line of scrimmage.
Maxx Crosby closes in on Caleb Williams
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Maxx Crosby is a 5-time NFL Pro Bowler
Baltimore's aggressive move comes after the exit of longtime head coach John Harbaugh after 18 seasons, with new head coach Jesse Minter and an entirely new coaching staff and brand-new defensive philosophy.
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Adding Crosby provides the Ravens with a top-tier edge rusher entering the prime of his career and enhances a roster that includes six Pro Bowlers; two on defense, including safety Kyle Hamilton and linebacker Roquan Smith.
Ravens franchise quarterback Lamar Jackson is in the process of negotiating a contract extension that would lock him in with the franchise beyond the 2028 season. Jackson posted a mysterious smiling emoji on social media indicating big news was coming, eight hours before Crosby's trade was announced.