The Baltimore Ravens acquired Maxx Crosby from the Las Vegas Raiders in exchange for two first-round picks, but the defensive end once placed Josh Allen ahead of Lamar Jackson
23:13 ET, 06 Mar 2026Updated 23:13 ET, 06 Mar 2026
Maxx Crosby admitted he'd rather face Lamar Jackson than Josh Allen
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Maxx Crosby admitted he'd rather face Lamar Jackson than Josh Allen(Image: 2025 Tim Warner)
NFL defensive end Maxx Crosby has been traded to the Baltimore Ravens for two first-round picks, ending a seven-year stint with the Las Vegas Raiders.
Crosby received interest from several NFL teams, including the Dallas Cowboys, but has joined Baltimore and new head coach Jesse Minter for the 2026 season. Crosby stormed out of the Raiders' facility toward the end of last season, after being placed on IR despite arguing that he could see out the year.
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The defensive end also reportedly clashed with Tom Brady's right-hand man, with the legendary quarterback and the Raiders regime now accepting defeat as he moves on.
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Crosby's time with the Raiders has ended, but he awkwardly admitted that he'd rather face Lamar Jackson than Josh Allen last year, although he did give his now-quarterback plenty of credit.
In recent times, games between the Ravens and the Buffalo Bills have been blockbuster. The Bills edged the Ravens 41-40 in a classic on the opening day of the 2025 season, after ending their playoff hopes months earlier.
During the 2024 NFL Divisional Round playoffs, the Bills beat the Ravens 27-25. Ahead of the huge postseason clash, Crosby was asked during a Good Morning Football appearance which quarterback he would rather face: Allen or Jackson.
"I've played both of them," Crosby said. "Both incredible talents ... If I'm on defense I might say I'd rather go against Lamar, with all respect.
Crosby said that as a defenseman, he preferred lining up against Lamar
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Crosby said that as a defenseman, he preferred lining up against Lamar(Image: 2024 Brandon Sloter)
"I mean, they're both incredible, but I think Josh Allen has shown over and over again—even in the losses to the Chiefs in those big games in the playoffs—Josh Allen was still having career games, he just didn't have the ball last.
"I feel like Josh Allen, he's got the clutch gene for sure. He's so dangerous running and throwing the ball."
Despite gushing over Allen's ability, Crosby will now become Jackson's teammate and will face Allen and the Bills for his new team in 2026. The Raiders received a 2026 and 2027 first-round pick to acquire the defensive end.
Crosby's exit from the Raiders was rumored for months, after he was shut down prematurely by Las Vegas before the end of the 2025 regular season. The Raiders wanted Crosby to be healthy for the 2026 campaign, but were also chasing the No. 1 pick, which they achieved.
Crosby was furious after being sat prematurely last season
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Crosby was furious after being sat prematurely last season(Image: Getty Images)
The defensive end was placed on IR before facing the New York Giants, a game that decided who would receive the No. 1 pick. The situation was widely reported last season, but Raiders head coach Pete Carroll played down the hostility before being fired.
Crosby made it clear that he didn't care about draft picks and instead was focused on winning every NFL game possible. "Yeah, I don’t give a s--- about the pick, to be honest," Crosby told reporters. "I don’t play for that. My job is to be the best defensive end in the world.
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"That’s what I focus on every day, and being a great leader, and being an influence, and being that guy on a consistent basis for my team. The front office, the coaches, they do that.
"But that’s got nothing to do with me. I’ve learned that lesson in the past, you can’t control everything. That’s not my job description, my job is to be the best in the world at what I do."