Ravens backing out of Maxx Crosby trade could have unrealized financial ramifications on Raiders’ 2026 NFL offseason
The Raiders may be limited after the Maxx Crosby trade failed.
The Las Vegas Raiders appeared to trade Maxx Crosby to the Baltimore Ravens over the weekend, but on Tuesday, the Raiders announced the Ravens had backed out. Multiple reports indicate Crosby did not pass his physical in Baltimore on Thursday.
Now, this has huge ramifications for the Raiders and the rest of their 2026 offseason.
Ravens backing out of trade for Maxx Crosby is bad for the Raiders
There is still a world where the Raiders trade Crosby somewhere else. We know the Chicago Bears, Philadelphia Eagles, and Dallas Cowboys were all interested before the Ravens agreed to the trade. It’s possible Crosby still gets dealt to one of those teams, and the ramifications aren’t as bad as they currently look.
At this point, Vegas is left without the two first-round picks they had been planning around; Baltimore offered pick No. 14 in 2026 and a 2027 first-round pick. The Raiders had been operating as if they would receive these picks in addition to taking Mendoza No. 1 overall. The Eagles, Cowboys, and Bears reportedly made offers as well, but their packages—such as fewer or later picks—were less valuable than Baltimore’s.
Reportedly, Dallas offered a first- and second-round pick; Dallas’ first-round pick is higher than Baltimore’s, but the second-rounder is from 2027. The status of Dallas’ current offer is now uncertain, as Baltimore backed out after the failed physical. As for Chicago and Philadelphia, their prior offers were lower than Baltimore’s, or the Raiders would have accepted them.
The Raiders now have $30 million less cap space than expected after the failed Crosby trade. As a result, they may need to reconsider free-agent deals they had verbally agreed to.
The Raiders were looking forward to getting that extra first-round pick, and it had them in a very good position this offseason alone, let alone next offseason. Now, things get a bit difficult because what happens from here? Do they still find a place to send Crosby, or do they stick with him and ride into the season with an elite player on the defensive side of the ball? The NFL is king when it comes to entertainment, and it’s currently proving that statement to be true.
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