The biggest deal of the NFL offseason is reportedly OFF after the Baltimore Ravens backed out of their plans to trade for Raiders superstar Maxx Crosby.
Crosby’s proposed move from Las Vegas to Baltimore sent the NFL into shockwaves on Friday when the teams agreed a deal that would see two first-round picks heading to the Raiders in exchange for the player.
Incredibly, though, the Raiders posted a statement on Tuesday night which read: ‘The Baltimore Ravens have backed out of our trade agreement for Maxx Crosby. We will have no further comment at this time.’
Trades between teams can be agreed at any time but do not become official until the league year begins on Wednesday at 4pm ET.
Crosby is one of the league’s best defensive ends but is coming off the back of a significant knee injury and is still required to pass a physical if and when he is traded.
NFL insider Mike Garafolo reported on Tuesday night that there is a ‘medical reason’ behind Baltimore’s decision to back out of the deal.
Maxx Crosby may not be heading to Baltimore after the Ravens ‘pulled out of the trade’
Over the weekend, Crosby had opened up about his excitement to join the Ravens for 2026
It was then reported by Ian Rapoport that Baltimore is ‘not ready to assume the risk of Crosby’s knee’ and have nullified the trade.
Crosby missed the end of the season and underwent successful surgery to repair the meniscus in his left knee in early January 2026.
The decision will come as a huge shock to Crosby himself, who recently posted an emotional goodbye to Las Vegas on social media, in which he apologized for letting down fans of the team.
Crosby appeared on his ‘The Rush’ podcast on Saturday to speak out for the first time in an emotional 13-minute address, thanking Raiders fans and apologizing for not bringing success to the franchise.
‘I feel like I left everything I had on the table for this team,’ he said. ‘I’ve given my heart and soul and I feel like I let y’all down, man. Ever since day one, I’ve wanted to create and build a winner with the Raiders.’
He added that Raiders fans have ‘every right to be upset’ with his decision to move on after seven seasons, but admitted that he would like to return and ‘finish in a Raiders jersey’.
The Raiders and Tom Brady now have to go back to the drawing board with their Crosby trade
He underwent knee surgery over the winter and that is said to be the reason for the decision
In response, he received a strong backlash from Raiders fans for opting to leave, and it would be a huge shock to see him pull on the team’s colors again in 2026.
In his post, Crosby then turned his attention – seemingly prematurely – to Baltimore and opened up on his hopes for his next chapter with the Ravens.
‘I’m going to give everything in my heart and soul to bring a championship to Baltimore,’ he said. ‘I’m going there with one purpose, and that’s to help this team get to where ultimately it needs to be and where everybody wants to go. And that’s winning a Super Bowl.
‘The whole city of Baltimore, the trust has got to be earned. I’m coming in guns blazing, I’m going to be myself, and I’m going to give everything I have in my heart and soul to be the best player I can possibly be, to help be the best leader, best example, on a daily basis.
‘No words are needed; I’m going to show by action. I cannot wait to do that every single day in that building.’
It remains to be seen what happens next, but it appears likely that the Raiders will go back to the drawing board and discuss new trade propositions with various suitors.
Las Vegas was due to receive two first-round picks for one of the NFL’s best defensive ends
Eric DeCosta is the Baltimore Ravens general manager, who has made the big Crosby decision
The 28-year-old defensive end is coming off a turbulent season in Las Vegas. A year ago, he signed a three-year, $106.5 million extension to stay with the Raiders, making him the NFL’s highest-paid non-quarterback at the time.
As well as his 10 sacks, he made 73 tackles and two forced fumbles despite being placed on injured reserve in December.
His knee injury became a league-wide news story at the time, when then-Raiders coach Pete Carroll spoke openly about Crosby potentially needing surgery.
Other reports contradicted Carroll’s claim, and Crosby added fuel to the fire by posting footage of himself playing basketball on his home court when he was supposedly injured.
It is not entirely clear when the footage and photographs were taken but they were uploaded to Instagram a few hours after the Raiders confirmed he would miss the rest of the 2025 season.
In December he shared footage of himself playing basketball and bouncing on a trampoline after being benched due to injury
Many concluded from the footage Crosby felt he was healthy enough to continue playing, while the Raiders were more concerned with protecting their star defensive end while preserving their place atop the NFL Draft.
Later it was confirmed that Crosby, angered by the team’s decision to place him on IR, had left the team facility.
The Raiders would win their season finale against the Kansas City Chiefs, but came away with the league’s worst record and the top pick in next month’s draft anyway.
In February, Crosby admitted his impatience at another losing season in Vegas and didn’t deny reports he had told minority owner Tom Brady he was ‘done’ with the team.
