Eric DeCosta
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Baltimore Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta.
It turns out people don’t like Baltimore Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta very much.
The Ravens’ attempted trade for Las Vegas Raiders edge rusher Maxx Crosby that DeCosta called off on Tuesday — 4 days after agreeing to the trade — has seemed to bring out the true feelings toward DeCosta to the surface, at least in NFL circles.
“The Ravens and Eric DeCosta are being called dishonest and dishonorable among NFL circles,” ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith said on Thursday morning. “I’m not saying that, but we have an obligation to point out that’s what is being said about him. I don’t know Eric DeCosta from a can of paint, but people in NFL circles, because of how this was handled, are saying that. That’s why he came out with his press conference and said whatever he said — where he tried to act contrite — because he knows it’s not a good look for him in the NFL community.”
Ravens Shocked NFL by Backing Out of Crosby Trade
The Ravens agreed to a trade with the Raiders on Friday night to give up their 2026 and 2027 1st round draft picks in exchange for Crosby, a 5-time Pro Bowler and one of the NFL’s dominant defensive players over the last 5 years.
Crosby’s surgically-repaired knee — he had meniscus surgery following the season — ended up being a sticking point for the Ravens, who knew he’d undergone the surgery when they made the trade but decided to back out after he came to Baltimore for his physical.
The Ravens went out and got the top free agent edge rusher on the market on Wednesday, signing NFL All-Pro Trey Hendrickson to a 4-year, $112 million contract worth up to $120 million with incentives.
“What’s come out of this is there is a universal disdain in the NFL for Eric DeCosta,” ESPN analyst and former NFL defensive back Ryan Clark said on Thursday. “Nobody has come out and backed (DeCosta) as trustworthy and honest.”
Eric DeCosta: ‘Gutted’ by Maxx Crosby Disaster
DeCosta pleaded his case on Wednesday in a press conference as he tried to explain his side of the Crosby non-trade.
“Nobody is more upset by this than me,” DeCosta told the media. “I’m gutted by it. I understand how people would feel that way (about conspiracies). But I have a responsibility to the Ravens.”
Plenty of evidence seemed to show the Ravens understood the extent of Crosby’s injury before the trade and simply got cold feet.
“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,” NFL Network reporter Cameron Wolfe wrote on his official X account on Tuesday night. “Consensus opinion I’ve got from NFL decision makers: Ravens got cold feet & it could impact how other teams work w/ BAL going forward.”
More evidence that DeCosta may have been acting in bad faith came from a report that he may have tried to change the terms of the original trade.
“One note ahead ofRavens GM Eric DeCosta meeting the media:at one point yesterday Baltimore discussed renegotiating the Maxx Crosby trade with theRaiders to mitigate the risk,” NFL Network reporter Jane Slater wrote on her official X account on Wednesday. “But those talks never fully got off the ground because further medical information led to their decision to pull out of the trade completely.”