By OLIVER SALT, US ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR
Published: 13:09 EDT, 24 March 2026 | Updated: 13:10 EDT, 24 March 2026
The Baltimore Ravens backed out of their proposed trade for Maxx Crosby amid concerns over a 'degenerative issue' in his knee, according to reports.
Crosby was poised to swap Las Vegas for Baltimore earlier this month after the Raiders agreed to send him to the Ravens in exchange for two first-round Draft picks.
That was until his blockbuster trade sensationally broke down at the 11th hour over a rumored 'failed' physical, forcing the Pro Bowl pass rusher to turn around and head back to Sin City.
Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta said he was 'gutted' after the trade collapsed, but a suspicious Crosby fumed on his 'The Rush' podcast last week that 'no one will ever admit what the real truth is' behind his failed move to Baltimore.
According to ESPN's Ryan McFadden, however, the Ravens pulled the plug on the move because of a 'degenerative issue' in his knee.
After having surgery to repair a torn meniscus in January, Crosby's knee was a concern that was discussed between the two teams before the trade was negotiated, McFadden's report claims.
The Ravens backed out of their trade for Maxx Crosby due to a 'degenerative issue' in his knee
Crosby, who fumed about the saga last week, saw his move to Baltimore dramatically collapse
The 28-year-old, who began walking without crutches on February 27, then spent March 10 undergoing a physical and getting an MRI in Baltimore after the deal was sealed.
Yet a source told ESPN: 'The consensus was that Crosby would be able to play in 2026. The Ravens' concern centered on the uncertainty of Crosby's durability after a couple of seasons in Baltimore because of a degenerative issue in his knee.'
Crosby admitted on his explosive podcast appearance that he was left 'terrified' two months on from his op, only for a call with esteemed surgeon Dr. Neal ElAttrache to reassure him that his repaired meniscus was healing exactly as it should be.
ElAttrache also recently told ESPN's Adam Schefter: 'Maxx Crosby is doing very well in the early part of his rehab and recovery from surgery to treat a significant meniscus tear and the related stress injury to the bone and cartilage in his knee. He is certainly on track in his planned program. He feels very well and is already much improved compared to before surgery.'
McFadden's report adds that multiple sources believe the Raiders and Crosby's representatives were transparent about the injury throughout the trade process with the Ravens, who had done 'extensive research' on his recovery and timeline during that time. As a result, their decision to nix it at the last minute created suspicion about whether his knee was truly the problem.
Details surrounding the apparent 'degenerative issue' Baltimore discovered are unclear.
After he had completed the physical, Crosby recalled meeting Ravens head coach Jesse Minter for the first time - before quickly realizing something wasn't right.
'I dap him up and I can just tell the energy was a little bit off,' he said on his podcast. 'The GM [Eric DeCosta] was standing in the hall to the right, and that was the first time I'd seen him.
Eric DeCosta, the Ravens general manager, said he was 'gutted' by the failed trade for Crosby
Crosby had knee surgery over the winter and that is said to be why the Ravens pulled out
Las Vegas was due to receive two first-round picks for one of the NFL's best defensive ends
'In my head, this is a whirlwind. Like, I'm so excited, fired up. And you could just tell the energy was off.
'I dapped [Minter] up and he had a blank face. I'm like ok... I'm not thinking anything of it. Maybe he's just different, I don't know him. Whatever.
'I go into the room, they sit me down on the couch and he's like, "Man I don't know how to say this, but one of our doctors has concerns with the results, like with your knee, some of them are really concerned about the future. We really want you but we're gonna have to get more and more opinions."'
Following a call with ElAttrache and a 20-minute nap, Crosby then received the dreaded news from agent CJ LaBoy.
'CJ calls me and he's like, "They're backing out." I'm like, "Holy s***,"' he recalled.
'So I'm like frozen. I'm livid, I'm confused. The whole nine all in one.'
Crosby also claimed that he never met Ravens general manager DeCosta despite arriving at the team's facility ahead of his expected trade.
'I thought I was gonna see him when I first got there,' he explained. 'I didn't see him for five hours. So, he didn't come out. And I don't know why. I'm not gonna speculate.
'I didn't see him one time. I even asked the girl, I was like, "Where's Eric?" You know what I mean? He just made the trade.'