Ravens Trade for Maxx Crosby in Blockbuster Deal With Raiders

3/6/2026

oossports

Ravens Land Maxx Crosby in Massive Trade With Raiders

The Baltimore Ravens made one of the biggest moves of the NFL offseason Friday.

Baltimore reportedly acquired star defensive end Maxx Crosby from the Las Vegas Raiders in a blockbuster trade, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

In exchange, the Ravens will send first-round picks in 2026 and 2027 to Las Vegas. The trade cannot officially be processed until next week.

ESPN sources: the Raiders agreed to trade five-time Pro-Bowl DE Maxx Crosby to the Baltimore Ravens in exchange for 2026 and 2027 first-round picks.

The trade cannot be processed until next week, but it is in place. And Crosby is expected to be a Raven with two 1s back to Vegas. pic.twitter.com/rfExCLpXfF
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 7, 2026

Ravens Add Elite Pass Rusher

The deal gives Baltimore the kind of dominant edge rusher the franchise has rarely possessed during the era of quarterback Lamar Jackson.

Crosby arrives as one of the NFL’s most disruptive defensive players. The five-time Pro Bowler has recorded at least 10 sacks in four different seasons and has consistently ranked among the league’s leaders in quarterback pressures.

Baltimore will have Crosby under contract for the next four seasons, with a projected cap hit of $35.8 million in 2026.

The move represents a rare aggressive swing for a franchise historically known for roster stability rather than splashy blockbuster deals.

A Major Shift for Baltimore’s Offseason

The trade comes during a transitional offseason for the Ravens.

Following the departure of longtime head coach John Harbaugh, Baltimore hired former Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter as the team’s new head coach. The organization is attempting to rebound from a disappointing 2025 season while reshaping its roster.

Adding Crosby gives Minter a centerpiece defender capable of anchoring the pass rush immediately.

However, the financial commitment and draft capital involved could impact Baltimore’s ability to retain other key players, including center Tyler Linderbaum and tight end Isaiah Likely.

Raiders Move On From Franchise Star

For Las Vegas, the trade marks the end of an era.

Crosby spent the first seven seasons of his career with the Raiders after being selected in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL Draft out of Eastern Michigan. During that span, he developed into the face of the defense and one of the league’s premier edge rushers.

The Raiders signed Crosby to a three-year extension worth $106.5 million last year, which briefly made him the highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL.

Despite public support from team leadership earlier this offseason, speculation about Crosby’s future grew after the Raiders placed him on injured reserve late last season.

The move reportedly created tension between Crosby and the organization.

Crosby Previously Addressed Trade Rumors

Amid the speculation earlier this offseason, Crosby acknowledged the outside noise surrounding his future.

“People are gonna have rumors,” Crosby said on the Let’s Go! podcast in February. “I just looked at my phone, I’ve been working all morning. Everyone’s hitting me up, ‘Did you say this?’ I can’t control that. You earn that as a player.”

“If you have drama, if you have a losing season, they just try to throw gasoline on the fire and make things a certain way,” Crosby added. “And, for me, I know what I’m about, I know what I represent. I really don’t care what everybody has to say.”

He later added: “I know my truth.”

What the Trade Means Going Forward

For Baltimore, the acquisition signals an aggressive push toward contention.

Crosby’s relentless motor and elite pass-rushing production could dramatically elevate the Ravens’ defensive front.

For the Raiders, the move signals a shift toward future assets as the franchise looks to reshape its roster through upcoming drafts.

Either way, the deal instantly becomes one of the defining moves of the NFL offseason.

Aidan O’Connell’s “disastrous” outing clouds Raiders preseason quarterback picture

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Aidan O’Connell hasn’t inspired much confidence this preseason. Entering his third year in the NFL, O’Connell continues to look like a backup at best, raising questions about the Raiders’ quarterback depth behind starter Geno Smith.

The 26-year-old threw two interceptions in the preseason opener against Seattle, then followed that up with another costly mistake in Week 2 against San Francisco. His play has left many wondering whether the Raiders can trust him if Smith goes down during the regular season.

Carroll’s critique

Seattle head coach Pete Carroll, whose team faced O’Connell in the preseason, gave a blunt assessment of the quarterback’s issues.

“I thought Aidan continued to little bit — we’re not quite as fast when he’s playing,” Carroll said, according to an article by SportingNews’s Mike Moraitis. “We don’t play as quick from huddle to the snap, still trying to work that out. And he made a poor choice on the throw for the pick, unfortunately. It was a crucial time, that was tough. Just the guy was covered, and if he had to it throw away or take off, we would have preferred that.”

The interception Carroll referenced was an ill-advised throw where O’Connell forced the ball into tight coverage. Former Raiders quarterback Rich Gannon, calling the game on the broadcast, criticized the decision bluntly: “Can’t make that throw.”

Adding an extra layer of intrigue, Raiders general manager John Spytek happened to be in the broadcast booth when the mistake occurred, though he didn’t react publicly.

Stuck as QB2?

Despite his struggles, O’Connell is still expected to hold onto the backup role in Las Vegas. Rookie Cam Miller has shown flashes of potential in limited action but cooled off in Week 2, making it unlikely that he jumps O’Connell on the depth chart just yet.

Still, Miller has displayed enough upside that the Raiders could keep him on the 53-man roster as a developmental option. Fans may clamor for him to get a chance if O’Connell continues to stumble.

What’s next for Las Vegas?

For now, the Raiders are set with Geno Smith as the starter and O’Connell slotted in behind him. But the preseason struggles raise legitimate concerns about what might happen if Smith is sidelined. Carroll’s comments highlight an ongoing problem: O’Connell has yet to speed up his processing and decision-making at the NFL level.

Whether he can adjust before the regular season remains to be seen, but his shaky preseason outings have kept the spotlight firmly on Las Vegas’ backup quarterback situation.

Geno Smith on Raiders’ Underdog Status: “Let Them Sleep”

Geno Smith is no stranger to defying expectations. After reviving his career with the Seattle Seahawks in 2022, the veteran quarterback is now aiming to lead a new chapter—this time with the Las Vegas Raiders.

Traded to Vegas in the offseason, Smith reunites with former Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll, now at the helm in the Sin City. The Raiders’ leadership overhaul also included new GM John Spytek, who helped orchestrate a roster reset on both sides of the ball following a losing 2024 campaign.

Despite those moves, Las Vegas has largely flown under the radar heading into 2025. The team faces steep competition in the AFC West, where three teams made the playoffs last year. Still, Smith isn’t concerned about outside expectations.

“I’m always the guy that I believe the game gets settled between the white lines on game day,” Smith told NFL Network’s Kevin Patra. “But from my vantage point, we’ve got a really, really good team. I don’t know if we’ll shock anyone inside of this building, but maybe shock some outsiders.”

He continued: “Let them sleep. I don’t want them to see us coming. We’re just working in the shadows right now, getting our game right, and when it’s time to go in those bright lights, I think we’ll be ready.”

Smith’s confidence comes with credibility. Now entering his 12th NFL season, Smith has played for four franchises: the Jets, Giants, Chargers, and Seahawks. Over his career, he has thrown for 19,143 yards and 105 touchdowns. He’s a two-time Pro Bowl selection and was named the NFL Comeback Player of the Year in 2022.

Smith’s comments reflect the mindset of a team looking to rewrite its story. The Raiders may not be preseason darlings, but with renewed leadership and a veteran quarterback at the helm, they could be primed to surprise.

Whether or not the improvements will translate into playoff success remains to be seen—but one thing is clear: Geno Smith isn’t backing down from the challenge.

Tag: Las Vegas Raiders