Maxx Crosby
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The Baltimore Ravens have been warned about "people screaming" about their motives for pivoting from Maxx Crosby to Trey Hendrickson.
Switching from Maxx Crosby to Trey Hendrickson won’t spare the Baltimore Ravens from more criticism from people “screaming about” exactly what motivated them to cancel the trade for the Las Vegas Raiders All-Pro edge-rusher.
Hitting abort on the deal to send two first-round draft picks to the Raiders for Crosby naturally sent shockwaves around the league on Tuesday, March 10. Fortunately, the Ravens reacted fast the next day to agree terms with Hendrickson, a credible replacement for Crosby as a four-time Pro Bowler and fellow All-Pro.
Yet, many will still have questions about the process that led Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta to pull the plug on the Crosby trade. Reports soon followed the player failed his physical amid recovery from knee surgery, but the Ravens were said to be fully aware of Crosby’s medical situation when they made the trade.
One of those with questions is former NFL offensive lineman Ross Tucker, host of The Ross Tucker Football Podcast. He explained how if “if the Ravens end up signing Trey Hendrickson that’s gonna invite all kinds of speculation that they actually had buyer’s remorse with Maxx Crosby, and that it wasn’t really a failed physical.”
Tucker did concede “the Ravens could argue, ‘we need an elite edge-rusher, it’s crticial to our defense, Maxx failed the physical, we gotta get somebody, Trey’s still available.’ Okay, but there’s also something to be said for we’re a couple of days into free agency, Hendrickson’s market probably not what we thought it would be. Did the Ravens maybe realise they could get a very good play for less money than Crosby, and not first-round picks and not coming off of a meniscus repair? That’s a distinct possibility people are going to be screaming about.”
Ross Tucker Podcast
“If the Ravens end up signing Trey Hendrickson…buyer’s remorse.” @RossTuckerNFL gives his thoughts on the Maxx Crosby trade being called off by Baltimore:
Tucker made this argument shortly before the Ravens secured the services of ex-Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Hendrickson. If the perception the Ravens changed their minds about Crosby to go bargain-hunting prevails, it will only add to the growing sense of confusion and anger around the league about how the front office has handled things during this veteran market.
Ravens Got a Great Deal for Trey Hendrickson
Whether or not they saw Hendrickson as representing value they couldn’t possibly pass up, the cold, hard reality is the Ravens got a great deal for one of the best pass-rushers in football. A player who represents the type of closer the Ravens have long missed along the front seven.
Hendrickson has the clutch gene among pass-rushers. Evidenced by his 37 pressures in the fourth quarter of games during the 2024 season, per NFL Researcher Tony Holzman-Escareno.
NFL Researcher
Most Pressures in the 4th Quarter Single Season, @NextGenStats Era
39 – Aidan Hutchinson (2025) 37 – Trey Hendrickson (2024) 34 – Myles Garrett (2023)
@Lions | #OnePride
This stat has the highest possible relevance for a Ravens team that’s made an unhappy habit of wasting leads in the fourth quarter in recent years. That failing was the most compelling reason for DeCosta to add a bluechip quarterback hunter this offseason.
Hendrickson qualifies, and he’ll also cost less than Crosby, who carried “a $30.7 million salary cap hit for the 2026 season and $29.7 million for 2027,” according to Ravens.com Editorial Director Ryan Mink.
Saving money and premium draft picks, while still getting one of the marquee edge defenders in the game represents excellent business, but it won’t spare the Ravens from taking heat for how things unfolded with Crosby.
Criticism of Maxx Crosby Change Won’t Disappear
DeCosta moved fast to try and close the book on the sorry episode involving Crosby, but Hendrickson’s arrival won’t be enough to quiet the noise. Not when Sportsboom insider Jason La Canfora reported he “Just got off the phone with two GMs. Neither one buying the Ravens failed physical narrative – not by a long shot. Good luck finding agents and teams to trust you in negotiations now. It’s not sitting well with the Raiders either. Coulda got further medicals on Crosby way sooner.”
Jason La Canfora
Just got off the phone with two GMs. Neither one buying the Ravens failed physical narrative – not by a long shot. Good luck finding agents and teams to trust you in negotiations now. It’s not sitting well with the Raiders either. Coulda got further medicals on Crosby way sooner
La Canfora isn’t the only one questioning what the Ravens knew about Crosby and when. Perception of how DeCosta handled this trade if firmly tilted toward negative and could stay that way for some time.
The potential for all of this to leave a lasting sense of mistrust in the Ravens was summed up by NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe. He revealed how “One NFL general manager told me everybody involved in Maxx Crosby trade talks knew he would be out until June/July coming off meniscus surgery. Consensus opinion I’ve got from NFL decision makers: Ravens got cold feet & it could impact how other teams work w/ BAL going forward.”
Cameron Wolfe
One NFL general manager told me everybody involved in Maxx Crosby trade talks knew he would be out until June/July coming off meniscus surgery.
Consensus opinion I’ve got from NFL decision makers: Ravens got cold feet & it could impact how other teams work w/ BAL going forward.
DeCosta was already taking heat for how many players the Ravens were losing in free agency. Extensive damage control is likely to be needed from the Ravens and their PR department for the foreseeable future.
Ultimately though, all will be forgiven by those closest to the front office if Hendrickson performs like the game-changing disruptor the Ravens have desperately needed.