The NFL veteran will make the switch to Baltimore when the new league year begins
In a blockbuster NFL move, the Baltimore Ravens have agreed to acquire star defensive end Maxx Crosby from the Las Vegas Raiders in exchange for first-round draft picks in 2026 and 2027.
In the franchise’s 31-year history, the Ravens have never previously traded a first-round draft selection to acquire an established veteran player.
The team originally held the 14th overall pick in this year’s draft before making the move.
Competition for Crosby’s signature was extremely competitive. Reports indicate the Dallas Cowboys also pursued the 28-year-old and were prepared to offer a package that included a first- and second-round pick.
Crosby arrives in Baltimore as one of the NFL’s most productive pass rushers and is expected to significantly strengthen a defence that struggled to generate pressure last season.
The Ravens recorded just 30 sacks in 2025, their lowest total in 15 years, and for the first time since the franchise’s inaugural 1996 season no edge rusher managed more than 4.5 sacks.
Over his seven-year career, Crosby has recorded four seasons with double-digit sack totals. Since entering the league in 2019, he has also produced 360 quarterback pressures.
Baltimore’s willingness to part with two first-round picks reflects the urgency surrounding the team after a disappointing 8-9 season in 2025.
The campaign ended without a playoff appearance and ultimately led to the departure of long-time head coach John Harbaugh.
Despite publicly stating their desire to keep Crosby, the Raiders ultimately decided to move on as the organisation begins another rebuild.
Since being selected in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL Draft, Crosby had become one of the league’s standout defensive players and a vocal leader within the locker room.
However, team success was limited during his tenure in Las Vegas. The Raiders reached the postseason only once and endured five losing seasons during that period while cycling through multiple head coaches and front-office changes.
The 2025 campaign proved particularly damaging, as the Raiders finished 3-14 despite high expectations for improvement. Quarterback Geno Smith struggled throughout the year, throwing a league-high 17 interceptions, while coaching staff changes further destabilised the season.
Crosby remained productive, recording 10 sacks, but his frustration became evident after the team shut him down for the final two games of the season because of a knee injury suffered earlier in the year.
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