Less than 24 hours after the Ravens backed out of the Maxx Crosby trade, they announced the signing of Trey Hendrickson. This move shocked many across the league, including Hendrickson himself.

The Ravens signing Hendrickson was a logical pivot after passing on Crosby. However, few believed it would have been financially or logistically possible for Baltimore to land both of them at once.

“I was looking forward to rushing with him,” Trey Hendrickson said on Terron Armstead’s The Set podcast. “Like what an incredible opportunity that would have been to have a bookends like that terrorizing quarterbacks, getting running backs to the ground. That’s what got me excited.”

Hendrickson and Crosby would have been a menace together

The mere idea of pairing Trey Hendrickson and Maxx Crosby is enough to chill any offense. As two elite pass rushers, they would have created a massive threat from both sides of the defensive line.

As of today, it appears Maxx Crosby will remain with the Las Vegas Raiders. He is currently recovering from knee surgery, which was reportedly the reason the Ravens chose not to move forward with the trade.

As for Hendrickson, injuries sidelined him for half of the 2025 season. If he remains healthy, he could significantly bolster the Ravens’ defense and finally provide Lamar Jackson with the elite support needed to contend for a Super Bowl.

In a video posted by the Raiders, Spytek said “My relationship with Maxx since I’ve gotten here has been great… Things have a way of going a certain way and working out the way they’re supposed to, and we welcome him like he never left.”

While the Raiders aren’t married to the idea of keeping Crosby, the only way they would trade him is if a good enough offer arrives. If not, they are more than happy to keep one of the best past-rushers in the NFL.

Crosby is still recovering from a knee injury

The whole ‘Crosby-to-Baltimore‘ move got canceled because Crosby didn’t pass a medical test. That’s because he is recovering from a knee surgery. Per Spytek, Crosby will be more than ready for when the season comes.

“Excited to see him work hard and attack the rehab and I know he’s going to be back ready to rock in August this year and have many good years ahead of him,” Spytek said. Crosby had 10 sacks and 73 combined tackles, alongside one interception.

The Raiders are trying to build something special

The Raiders have been going in a downward spiral for a while now. However, with all the moves they are doing this offseason, they are trying to turn the tables and go all in. First, the arrival of Klint Kubiak as new head coach. Soon in the NFL Draft, they’ll pick their quarterback in Fernando Mendoza.

They will recover Crosby. Also, the Raiders still have young, talented pieces like Ashton Jeanty and Brock Bowers. Many more things are yet to come. They’ve also been rebuilding their offensive line. Hence, the Raiders want to be taken seriously.

Reports indicate that the Ravens flagged concerns regarding Crosby‘s long-term health during his physical. Unfortunately, the team’s medical staff identified an issue they believe could impact his performance in the coming years.

According to Ryan McFadden of ESPN, the Ravens declined the trade because: “The consensus was that Crosby would be able to play in 2026. The Ravens’ concern centered on the uncertainty of Crosby’s durability after a couple of seasons in Baltimore because of a degenerative issue in his knee, a source told ESPN.”

Maxx Crosby’s camp disputes the report

When the Ravens confirmed that the physical did not meet their expectations, many questioned whether the star defender was healthy enough to compete.

In response, Maxx Crosby’s camp has pushed back against these rumors. He received public support from his surgeon, Dr. Neal ElAttrache, who stated that the player is fully healthy and ahead of schedule in his recovery from January meniscus surgery.

Crosby himself has addressed the failed trade, suggesting that “conspiracy theories” are being created about the situation. However, it appears the Ravens remained firm in their belief that he might not remain healthy beyond the 2026 season.

Is Maxx Crosby staying with the Raiders?

Yes, Maxx Crosby is set to remain with the Las Vegas Raiders for the 2026 season. The club has not reopened trade discussions for the pass rusher, and the front office appears comfortable keeping him on the roster.

If Crosby delivers a dominant performance in the upcoming campaign and remains injury-free, he will prove the Ravens wrong. However, any recurring health issues would validate Baltimore’s decision to walk away from the blockbuster deal.

“I love being involved in the NFL. Like I said, I love football. I love sports. I was very fortunate in my career to be around amazing people and mentors like Robert Kraft, as an owner of a team, and now getting to work with Mark Davis in the role that I’m at, and to see kind of a different team shape. The way that things are done and how we’re evolving and growing, and, you know, we certainly have a long way to go. What I learned about football in 23 seasons is, it’s a tremendous amount of resilience, adversity, discipline, determination, communication of an entire organization to see really the value in committing to one another.”

Clearly, the legendary Super Bowl champion answered the first part of the question about his greater involvement in Raiders decisions, but he did not want to talk at all about what happened with Crosby.

Tom Brady and the Maxx Crosby failed trade with Raiders

Various reports have indicated that for the 2026 season, Tom Brady has chosen to intervene more in key decisions with the Las Vegas Raiders. In just a few weeks, the team already fired head coach Pete Carroll and will begin a new process with Klint Kubiak.

The other major move was completing a trade to send Maxx Crosby to the Ravens in exchange for two first-round picks. That way, they gained draft capital and significant salary cap space. However, Baltimore argued that the player did not pass a physical test and the deal wasn’t officially completed.

When Brady faced that question at the Flag Football Classic, the former quarterback did not want to give clues about his opinion on the Crosby trade and preferred to focus on his role as an owner.

“So, you know, it’s always, I think, process over outcomes. I think we’re all trying and all of us in our own role that we have, whether it’s an ownership role or a personnel department or strength and conditioning and athletic training and obviously players and positions and offense, defense, everyone’s got to come together. Everyone has to work incredibly hard for the people next to them.”

Many analysts and experts have suggested that the Baltimore Ravens might have reconsidered, fearing regret over giving up two first-round picks for the pass rusher. Despite the media frenzy, Crosby maintained a calm and focused approach, emphasizing his commitment to his recovery and his team.

On his podcast The Rush, Maxx Crosby opened up about his emotions following the failed trade: “I was livid, confused, the whole nine. All in one. This is the thing. Everyone’s got their own theory, conspiracy theory. No one really will ever admit, either side, what the real truth is or whatever. Ultimately, it doesn’t even matter. I am where I’m supposed to be. I know that.”

Why Maxx Crosby stayed with the Raiders?

Maxx Crosby addressed why the trade never materialized: “It all happens for a reason, I know exactly who I am. I’m healthy, I’m crushing my rehab, I’m doing what I’m doing. I wasn’t supposed to be in Baltimore, and that’s it. I’m meant to be a Raider. It’s through my core. And that’s it, you know what I mean? I’ll leave it simple as that.”

Maxx Crosby takes a shot at Ravens GM

The pass rusher also shared his experience with Ravens GM Eric DeCosta: “I thought I was going to see DeCosta when I first got there. I don’t know why. I’m not going to speculate. He just made the trade and I didn’t see him for five hours.”

These comments highlight the distance and confusion surrounding the failed deal, while Crosby continues to maintain his professional focus with the Raiders. If a team’s GM just pulled off one of the most important trades in franchise history, the big question is why he wasn’t even there to welcome the star he acquired.

Jones recently addressed speculation about a possible move involving Raiders star pass rusher Maxx Crosby, making it clear that, while a deal does not appear imminent, the door is not completely closed. “We’re pretty far down the road relative to what our plans are. So, while I don’t anticipate it, I don’t want to rule anything out.”

The Cowboys’ interest in adding a top defensive player is not surprising given the team’s recent roster changes. Dallas traded Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers before the 2025 season, leaving a major gap in the defense and increasing pressure on the front office to find another star at the position.

Could the Cowboys still trade for Maxx Crosby?

Yes. The Cowboys could trade for Maxx Crosby. However, at the moment, a deal does not seem likely as Jerry Jones is not convinced to make a move. The situation around the player has become really complicated after the failed trade between the Raiders and the Baltimore Ravens, which initially involved two first-round picks before collapsing over a disputed medical evaluation.

Cowboys have been searching for a star pass rusher

The Dallas Cowboys have been heavily involved in multiple trade rumors throughout the offseason while trying to add a defensive star. The team was once believed to be a strong contender to acquire Trey Hendrickson, but that possibility disappeared after the edge rusher signed with the Ravens.

Some reports also indicated that Jones previously offered a package including a first-round pick and a second-round pick for Crosby, though it was not enough to beat Baltimore’s original offer. Now that the Ravens deal has failed, the Cowboys could theoretically pursue Crosby again at a lower price, if the Raiders are willing to reopen trade discussions.

Trade rumors intensified earlier in free agency when the Raiders negotiated with the Ravens on a potential deal that would have sent the star pass rusher to Baltimore. However, the agreement collapsed at the last moment, creating widespread debate across the league about what really happened behind the scenes.

Since then, the situation has evolved quickly, with the Raiders now indicating that Crosby may no longer be available on the trade market as both sides try to move forward after the failed negotiations.

Raiders’ final decision on Maxx Crosby trade

According to a report from Mike Florio, the Las Vegas Raiders have now informed other teams that Maxx Crosby is no longer part of trade discussions. “Per a league source, the Raiders are currently telling teams that defensive end Maxx Crosby won’t be traded, in the aftermath of the failed effort to ship him to the Ravens for a pair of first-round picks.”

The controversy surrounding the situation began when Baltimore reportedly agreed to send two first-round picks to Las Vegas in exchange for Crosby. However, the Ravens ultimately backed out of the deal after concerns related to a medical evaluation, and shortly afterward they signed edge rusher Trey Hendrickson instead.

Despite the speculation that followed, Crosby and his representatives have insisted that the recovery from his knee surgery is progressing normally. The defensive star even addressed the situation on social media, suggesting that he now intends to stay with the Raiders as the team prepares for the upcoming season.

Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta addressed the situation publicly, pushing back on speculation that the organization walked away from the deal for strategic or financial reasons. “I understand it. We live in that age of skepticism and people question, especially people that don’t really know me or know the Ravens culture and the Ravens organization.”

The comments came after days of intense debate across the league, particularly because the failed trade happened during the legal tampering period and involved significant draft capital. Many around the NFL had expected the Ravens to land Crosby as the final piece of a defense built to compete for a Super Bowl.

Why Maxx Crosby wasn’t traded to Ravens?

According to the Ravens’ perspective, the trade ultimately fell apart because of a failed medical exam. Crosby underwent knee surgery in January, and based on Baltimore’s evaluation, something in the defensive star’s medical situation, which hasn’t been revealed, raised concerns.

DeCosta acknowledged the frustration surrounding the situation, especially as fans and analysts questioned the team’s motives after Baltimore later signed edge rusher Trey Hendrickson, a move that cost significantly less and did not require giving up two first-round picks.

“I understand how people might maybe from afar would feel that way, but nobody’s more upset about this than me. I’m gutted by it actually. So, it’s a regret, a big regret for me, but we will move on as a football team. There were moments when, honestly, I was probably speechless. I was just sitting in my chair in my office and just thinking about what the next step would be and trying to get as much information as possible.”

Despite the Ravens’ explanation, doubts remain across the NFL. Maxx Crosby and his representatives have insisted that the defensive end was progressing normally in his recovery timeline following surgery, fueling speculation that Baltimore may have simply reconsidered the cost of the deal before ultimately backing away from the blockbuster trade.

Hendrickson got quite the deal by the Ravens. Now, the Ravens have released quarterback Cooper Rush, per NBC Sports. The Ravens also re-signed Snoop Huntley to become Lamar Jackson’s backup. Rush had signed a two-year deal, but after just one, his time in Baltimore is up.

Huntley played for the Ravens from his rookie year in 2020 to 2023. He played six games in 2022, starting four of them and that earned him a Pro Bowl selection. After spending the 2024 season in Miami, he went back to Baltimore last year, and it seems like he beat Rush in the QB2 competition.

Huntley had a massive advantage over Rush

Rush is years older than Huntley, but the real disadvantage he faced is his style compared to Huntley’s. Being the backup of Lamar Jackson is no easy feat. He is the fastest, must mobile QB in the NFL. Rush is a pure pocket passer, not that mobile, so when he steps in, the playbook must dramatically change.

As for, Huntley, he is like a mini version of Jackson. He is mobile, he runs quite a lot and the playbook can remain almost exactly the same. Hence, it’s an easier transition. After all, Lamar has missed games in all but one season. Usually, the backup will need to step up for a couple of games.

Baltimore has plenty of cap space to work

After restructuring Lamar Jackson’s contract, signing Trey Hendrickson, and ditching the Crosby trade, Baltimore is in quite a great position. On the Lamar Jackson side of things, that freed up nearly $40 million in cap space. And without the Crosby trade, they kept this year’s and next year’s first round picks.

Hence, now the Ravens have plenty of room to move and keep building their roster. The Ravens are in prime position to continue bringing big-time names as they hope to go on a Super Bowl trip for once in Jackson’s career.

The Ravens argued that Crosby failed a physical test, so they decided to back out of the trade that would have given the Raiders two first-round picks. However, according to the star player, that is not the truth about what happened. “Everything happens for a reason. Believe nothing you hear and half of what you see. Im a Raider. I’m back.”

Since last season, the defensive end had expressed his displeasure with the Raiders after they left him out of the final games. The player said that was not the winning culture he expected from a team, hinting that they were tanking to obtain the No. 1 overall pick. That opened the door to a possible trade at the start of free agency, and the Ravens saw him as the missing piece to become Super Bowl contenders.

What happened with Maxx Crosby and Ravens?

However, even though the trade was reported during the legal period of tampering, free agency had not officially begun yet. That allowed the Ravens, under the argument that Maxx Crosby failed the physical test, to pull out of the deal and recover their first-round picks.

Who did the Ravens sign instead of Maxx Crosby?

Instead, the Ravens signed Trey Hendrickson, giving him a four-year, $112 million contract. That has sparked a lot of speculation about the Ravens’ behavior, as the former Bengals player turned out to be a much cheaper option without having to give up draft capital.

What’s next for Maxx Crosby?

Although Maxx Crosby has said he wants to play for the Raiders, there are no guarantees that will be the next chapter in his career. Other teams could still inquire about a trade, but after what happened with the Ravens, the package they offer will most likely be much lower. That could ultimately lead to him staying in Las Vegas.

On Tuesday night, the NFL world was shocked by the news of the Ravens backing out of the Maxx Crosby trade. However, more details about this unexpected move have emerged that continue to stun fans across the league.

According to NFL Insider Dianna Russini, Maxx Crosby was actually inside the Ravens’ facilities when they decided to void the trade. While he was undergoing medical evaluations, Baltimore had already begun the process of signing Trey Hendrickson, whom they ultimately acquired just 13 hours later.

Uncertainty surrounds Maxx Crosby

According to reports, the Ravens canceled the trade for Maxx Crosby after the player failed his physical. Concerns regarding the long-term prognosis of his knee, following a meniscus repair in January, led Baltimore to withdraw their offer of two first-round picks.

With Maxx Crosby receiving public support from his surgeon, Dr. Neal ElAttrache, the player has a solid argument to prove he is healthy enough to play. Nevertheless, it will be necessary for him and the Raiders to provide indisputable medical evidence if a new trade offer arrives from another suitor.

If the Raiders do not receive any further offers for Crosby, the player will most likely remain with the club for the 2026 season. If he does stay in Las Vegas, he will undoubtedly play with a massive chip on his shoulder to prove to the Ravens that they made a historic mistake by passing on him.