Per Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, the Baltimore Ravens backed out of a trade deal for Maxx Crosby for a “medical reason.”
The Ravens had agreed to trade a first-round pick in 2026 and 2027 for the star defensive end, but the deal could not be finalized until Wednesday, the start of the league’s new year.
As Rapoport wrote before the Super Bowl, Crosby was not expected to pass a physical before the start of free agency. After being placed on injured reserve for the final two weeks of the season, the defensive end underwent surgery to repair his meniscus.
Mike Garofolo noted the Ravens were not comfortable making a projection that Crosby would return as soon as they anticipated when they initially agreed to the trade.
“A key couple of paragraphs from @RapSheet's story on Maxx Crosby that published on Super Bowl weekend,” Garofolo wrote. "Medical clearance was not expected by now. It's all a projection on his recovery. The Ravens weren't comfortable making that projection today. The Raiders disagree.”
On Tuesday night, Crosby’s lead agent at Wasserman, CJ LaBoy, posted an update from the defensive end’s doctor, Dr. Neal El Attrache. Crosby is “on track” to recovery and is expected to return during OTAs this spring.
“Maxx continues to be on track in his recovery and if anything is ahead of schedule according to his surgeon Dr Neal El Attrache,” LaBoy posted on X. “Maxx remains on track to return during the offseason program & will undoubtedly return as the dominant game wrecker he has been these past 7 seasons.”
It remains to be seen if Crosby will return to OTAs with the Raiders or another NFL team, if indeed the two-time All-Pro remains on track to recover. The Raiders spent a lot of money in free agency with the expectation that they wouldn’t be on the hook for Crosby’s cap hit of $35.7 million.
In the meantime, the Raiders have Crosby on the roster with hours to go before the start of the league’s new year.
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