NFL Trade: Maxx Crosby to Ravens, What it Means for Raiders, Lamar Jackson
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The NFL offseason has already produced a major blockbuster, with the Las Vegas Raiders trading star edge rusher Maxx Crosby to the Baltimore Ravens.
The Ravens agreed to send two first-round picks, the No 14 selection in 2026 and another first-rounder in 2027, to Las Vegas.
Crosby had signed a three-year, $106.5 million extension with the Raiders just a year earlier, making the move both expensive and significant for Baltimore.
The Ravens entered the offseason with a glaring need for pass rush production, struggling to pressure opposing quarterbacks last season, finishing near the bottom of the league in several defensive categories.
Adding Crosby, who is one of the NFL’s most disruptive edge rushers, instantly upgrades that weakness and gives first-year head coach Jesse Minter a centerpiece for his defensive system.
The move also provides insurance after Nnamdi Madubuike suffered a serious neck injury that wiped out his 2025 season and raised concerns about his long-term future.
For Crosby, the trade marks the end of a seven-season run with the Raiders in which he became the face of their defense.
The trade now gives the defensive star an opportunity to compete for a championship with a perennial contender.
From Las Vegas’ perspective, the trade signals a clear pivot toward building around offense and their expected new franchise quarterback.
The Raiders hold the No. 1 overall pick, which is widely expected to be used on Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza.
The trade has consequences beyond the two teams involved, strengthening a defense that already competes in a division stacked with elite pass rushers.
For quarterbacks around the league, especially within the AFC North, the move means facing another dominant defensive threat.
