After moving on from head coach John Harbaugh, the Baltimore Ravens aren’t playing around. Just days prior to the legal tampering period of free agency, reports have emerged that the team has solidified a trade with star Raiders EDGE, Maxx Crosby.
Former ESPN analyst Trey Wingo reported this week that Las Vegas was engaging in talks with teams for multiple first round picks for Crosby, and that has apparently come to fruition as of Friday evening. Per multiple additional recent reports, the Ravens are sending two first-round picks, which is a purported package including Baltimore’s top picks in the next two drafts.
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Baltimore’s defense has taken a step back since Mike Macdonald took the head coaching job with Seattle, but their overall ferocity and philosophy on creating big plays haven’t changed. Crosby joins a Ravens front that includes Nnamdi Madubuike and others to make waves in the AFC.
Crosby was once considered a trade target for the Bengals (largely by the fan base), especially with Trey Hendrickson’s long-term future in flux. Cincinnati didn’t trade Hendrickson at the fall deadline last year, opted not to tag him this spring, and he is now set to become a free agent.
Meanwhile, Crosby was at odds with the Raiders for most of the 2025 season. After signing a mega-extension with Las Vegas in March of last year, the team’s lack of success, tumultuous ownership, and mishandling of his injury at the end of the season led to this divorce.
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Crosby is entering his eighth NFL season and is a five-time Pro Bowler—a consecutive designation the past five seasons. He has eclipsed the double-digit sack mark four times in his career (2019, 2022, 2023, 2025) and has had 20-plus tackles for loss three times in his career (2022, 2023, 2025).
The Raiders are in full rebuild mode, and that could take a couple of years for them to reach competitive status once again. Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza appears to be their guy at No. 1 overall this year, but being armed with another first round pick (reportedly No. 14 overall) and No. 36 at the top of the second places them in a good rebounding spot. They drafted generational running back talent Ashton Jeanty No. 6 overall last year.
Cincinnati’s de facto G.M, Duke Tobin, has said the team is “all in” again this offseason, but two first round picks for one of the top pass-rushing talents in the league was always going to be too rich for their blood. Throw in the fact that the Bengals have past first-round investments in Myles Murphy (2023) and Shemar Stewart (2025), and the Crosby-to-the-Bengals hype looked more and more like a pipe dream.
And, while the Bengals’ offensive line made immense improvement last year, they will face premier defensive ends for at least six games per year for the foreseeable future. Pittsburgh’s T.J. Watt, Cleveland’s Myles Garrett, and, now, Crosby with the Ravens will try to chase down Joe Burrow for a third of the annual schedule.
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The Bengals will be making moves of their own next week, but Crosby isn’t in their plans. Even worse, he goes to a division rival.
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