Maxx Crosby Traded Weeks After Raiders Coach Called Keeping Him a 'No-Brainer'

Just weeks ago, Las Vegas Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak called keeping Maxx Crosby a "no-brainer." On Friday night, the Raiders apparently channeled the Scarecrow from The Wizard of Oz and traded him to the Baltimore Ravens.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported the deal Friday night — the Raiders will send the five-time Pro Bowl defensive end to Baltimore in exchange for first-round picks in 2026 and 2027. The 2026 pick is the No. 14 overall selection. The trade cannot be officially processed until the new league year begins next week, but it is in place.

General manager John Spytek had similarly told reporters at the NFL Combine just weeks ago that he expected Crosby to be on the roster next season. The Ravens ultimately made an offer too good to refuse.

Why Did the Raiders Trade Maxx Crosby?

The trade caps a turbulent end to Crosby's seven-year run in Las Vegas. The Raiders shut him down for their final two games of the 2025 season — a decision that strained the relationship between player and team. Crosby, who ultimately required knee surgery, felt confident he could play through the issue. After being placed on injured reserve, he posted a video of himself playing basketball and photos on a trampoline, fueling speculation about where things stood between him and the franchise.

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Maxx Crosby posted videos of him playing basketball and being on the trampoline after the Raiders placed him on IR ???? [via maxxcrosby/IG]

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With Las Vegas now in full rebuild mode — set to draft quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the first overall pick — and a relationship that had clearly soured, the writing was on the wall.

What Crosby Brings to Baltimore

The Ravens are getting one of the league's premier pass rushers at exactly the right time. Baltimore's pass rush ranked near the bottom of the NFL last season — their sack rate was second-worst in franchise history — made worse by Nnamdi Madubuike's season-ending neck injury.

In 2025, Crosby appeared in 15 games and recorded 73 tackles, 28 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, one interception, and two forced fumbles. He steps in as an immediate difference-maker alongside a defense built around Lamar Jackson's MVP-caliber offense and Derrick Henry's ground game.

Crosby, who has never advanced beyond the wild-card round in seven seasons in Las Vegas, now heads to one of the NFL's most legitimate Super Bowl contenders.