Maxx Crosby
Getty
One analyst believes the Ravens could move up the board in the 2026 NFL Draft after failing to acquire Maxx Crosby
The Baltimore Ravens have made quite a few moves over the past couple of months, but to this point, their offseason has been defined by their failed trade for Las Vegas Raiders superstar defensive lineman Maxx Crosby. After initially agreeing to send their 2026 and 2027 first-round picks to the Raiders in exchange for Crosby, the Ravens backed out at the last second after the six-time Pro Bowler failed his physical.
Baltimore moved quickly to replace Crosby by signing Trey Hendrickson to a four-year, $112 million contract in free agency, but the team’s draft strategy has changed on the fly several times in the span of just a few weeks. And now that they are once again armed with the No. 14 overall pick, one NFL analyst believes that the Ravens could make a big move up the board by swinging a trade with the Washington Commanders.
Ravens Urged to Move Up the Board in Trade with the Commanders
Even with the addition of Hendrickson, the Ravens are widely expected to target more help on the defensive side of the ball with the No. 14 pick. Whether they stand pat and make this pick, or move up or down the board, Baltimore is likely going to be in the market for a defensive playmaker, particularly at the linebacker or defensive line positions.
Several big-name defenders could be enticing for Baltimore at the top of this draft. Ohio State Buckeyes linebackers Arvell Reese and Sonny Styles are both in contention to get selected with the No. 2 overall pick, and edge rushers David Bailey and Rueben Bain are both expected to be top-10 picks.
In an ideal world, the Ravens would see one of those guys fall to them, but at the No. 14 pick, that’s unlikely to happen. If Baltimore feels strongly about one of these players, it could make a move up the board for one of them. NFL analyst Bill Barnwell of ESPN crafted up a trade pitch that would see the team move up to the No. 7 pick by sending the Commanders their first-round pick (No. 14), two third- rounders (No. 80 and a 2027 pick), and a fifth-round selection (No. 154).
“We saw Baltimore very nearly trade two first-round picks for Maxx Crosby, and though that trade was eventually abandoned for the signing of Trey Hendrickson, general manager Eric DeCosta suggested afterward that the Ravens were interested in trading for Crosby and signing Hendrickson. That possibility certainly hints toward the Ravens pursuing pass-rush help at the top of this draft,” Barnwell wrote when explaining the rationale behind the move.
Should the Ravens Make This Trade with the Commanders?
Eric DeCosta
GettyBaltimore Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta.
This is a pretty big haul to give up to move up just seven spots in the draft, but that may be what it takes to land one of the top defensive players available this year. Reese, Styles, Bailey, and Bain all appear set to be immediate contributors in the NFL, and for a Ravens team that is set to have Super Bowl expectations in 2026, that could justify this massive deal.
Baltimore’s front office would have to feel strongly about one of those four guys in order to make this sort of trade, and there’s a chance that none of them will be available by the time Washington is on the clock with the No. 7 pick. If one of them falls, though, don’t be surprised if you see the Ravens swinging another blockbuster trade to land a defensive stud.