It’s no secret that the Baltimore Ravens’ trade for superstar DE Maxx Crosby is a thing of the past.
Due to health concerns, the Ravens backed out of the trade (the Baltimore Ravens would have sent two first-round picks to the Las Vegas Raiders for Crosby) on Tuesday night, leaving the NFL world stunned.
On Wednesday, Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer revealed major details about the failed trade that should pique the interest of franchises hoping to pursue the five-time Pro Bowler this offseason.
“My understanding is that the Ravens were not comfortable with the condition of Crosby’s knee—in which he had a meniscus repair—after Tuesday’s physical,” Breer reported. “A football player failing his physical generally isn’t a black-and-white thing. Players are given a score from the doctor, and that score is adjusted based on the level of investment the team must make to acquire the player.”
“Were Crosby coming in, for argument’s sake, for a seventh-round pick, he’d likely have passed the physical, because there would have been less risk than there was with the Ravens giving up two first-rounders to acquire him. So that’s a moving target, and the Ravens didn’t like what they saw Tuesday.
Essentially, it sounds like the Ravens felt it was far too risky to follow through with their blockbuster trade for Crosby after learning more about his current health status. When red flags present themselves, organizations shouldn’t hesitate to make decisions that’ll benefit them in the long run.
Fortunately for Baltimore, it didn’t take them long to locate a replacement for Crosby, as they signed highly coveted former Cincinnati Bengals DE Trey Hendrickson to a four-year, $112 million contract on Wednesday. Hendrickson finished the 2025-26 season with 11 solo tackles, four sacks, and one forced fumble with the Bengals.
Simply put, it all worked out for the Ravens in the end.
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