Just last week, Maxx Crosby was saying his goodbyes with the Las Vegas Raiders, with a trade to the Baltimore Ravens all but confirmed.
On March 7, the Raiders and Ravens agreed to a deal sending Crosby to Baltimore in exchange for two first-round picks (2026 and 2027).
Less than a week later, Crosby is still a member of the Raiders after the Ravens canceled the deal in place to acquire the 28-year-old.
The seven-year NFL veteran is fresh off his fourth-career double-digit sack campaign with 10, while factoring in 73 tackles in 15 games — good enough to earn his fifth consecutive Pro Bowl nomination.
But Crosby has only played one playoff game since he was drafted 106th overall by the Raiders in the 2019 NFL Draft. Las Vegas is coming off a forgettable 3-14 season — the fifth losing season of the 28-year-old's career.
In early February, FOX Sports' Jay Glazer reported that Crosby is done with the Raiders, adding that the player does not want to go through another rebuild.
SportsBoom.com's Jason LaCanfora corroborated the report on Monday, quoting an unnamed NFL general manager who said Crosby has communicated his wish to leave directly to management and ownership, including minority owner Tom Brady.
“He told Tom Brady he will never play for the Raiders again,” the GM said. “That’s a fact. He told them he’ll retire before he ever plays for them again. But I’m not sure they’re actually going to trade him."
But why did the Ravens pull out of the deal? Former NFL linebacker Will Compton shared his theory on social media on Wednesday.
Compton Calls Out Ravens for Shady Business
Maxx Crosby Las Vegas Raiders DEKirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Will Compton, a nine-year NFL veteran and now co-host of popular Barstool Sports podcast Bussin' With the Boys, took to social media on Wednesday to express his disgust with the Maxx Crosby situation, and broke down why he thinks the Ravens were "scumbags" in this situation.
Compton alleges that Baltimore canceled their deal for Crosby because they preferred to pursue free-agent edge rusher Trey Hendrickson instead, who they would end up signing to a four-year, $112 million contract.
In the video, Compton theorizes that the Ravens and Hendrickson's camp were in contact for days leading up to free agency, and pounced when the former Cincinnati Bengal wasn't signed on Day 1 of the NFL's free agency period.
Crosby reportedly failed a physical with the Ravens on Tuesday, which Compton alleges was just an excuse for Baltimore to pull out of the deal and sign Hendrickson instead.
Compton referenced a similar situation from 2018, when the Ravens signed free-agent wide receiver Ryan Grant but gave up on the deal just a day later when Grant "failed" his physical. Baltimore then signed Michael Crabtree instead, who had been cut by the Raiders just a day earlier.
Grant would end up signing with the Indianapolis Colts and passing his physical just a week later.
Maxx Crosby EDGE Las Vegas Raiders Related
Maxx Crosby Breaks Silence After Ravens Trade Falls Through
The star edge rusher took to social media to address his failed move to Baltimore.