Ravens Cancel Maxx Crosby Trade After Medical Concerns

A high-profile NFL trade involving star pass rusher Maxx Crosby has collapsed after the Baltimore Ravens withdrew from an agreement with the Las Vegas Raiders due to medical concerns discovered during a routine examination.

Baltimore Backs Out of Maxx Crosby Deal Over Knee Concerns

The teams had reached a deal that would have sent Crosby to Baltimore in exchange for two first-round draft selections. However, the transfer required the player to pass a physical before becoming official. According to league sources, doctors working for the Ravens determined that the potential long-term risk surrounding Crosby’s knee was too serious, given the assets the team planned to give up, as reported by The New York Times.

Crosby, a five-time Pro Bowl defender, is recovering from surgery performed in January to repair a torn meniscus that ended his 2025 season prematurely. Although the procedure was intended to resolve the issue, Baltimore’s medical staff concluded that there remained uncertainty about the durability of the joint over time. While evaluations suggested his short-term recovery was progressing well, decision-makers in the Ravens organization judged the investment too risky in the end.

Representatives for Crosby disputed any idea that his recovery had stalled. His agent said medical specialists who oversee the rehabilitation believed the player was ahead of schedule and expected him to return during offseason workouts. The surgeon who performed the operation also indicated that Crosby was responding to treatment and that the timing of the evaluation may have had an influence on concerns, as the healing process is still underway.

Failed Crosby Trade Forces Ravens to Rethink Offseason Plans

The trade had been viewed as one of the most important transactions of the 2026 offseason. Baltimore planned to send its first-round pick in the upcoming draft, No. 14 overall, along with another first-round selection in 2027. The move would have addressed the Ravens’ need for a top pass rusher and marked the first time in franchise history they parted with a first-round pick to acquire a player through a trade.

For the Raiders, the deal was expected to speed up their rebuilding strategy by adding valuable draft capital. Now the franchise must determine whether to keep Crosby or explore other trade possibilities. Several teams had shown interest, though it remains unclear whether offers similar to Baltimore’s will emerge again.

The collapse of the agreement also leaves the Ravens scrambling for alternatives at a critical defensive position. The club had targeted Crosby as a cornerstone addition, but must now look elsewhere to strengthen its pass rush before the upcoming season.Crosby, who was selected by Las Vegas in the fourth round of the 2019 draft, has become one of the league’s most productive defensive players. Over seven seasons, he has recorded 69.5 sacks and 133 tackles for loss, which establishes him as a central figure in the Raiders’ defense.