Ravens, Raiders Connected In Blockbuster Trade

Las Vegas Raiders edge defender Maxx Crosby wants a trade, and every single team in the league should have at least a passing interest in the veteran. Now set to play for his third head coach in as many seasons, Crosby doesn’t want to be part of yet another rebuild, and Jay Glazer believes his time with the team is most likely over.

The Raiders finished with the worst record in football last year, but Crosby was not the reason for the team’s lack of success. The five-time Pro Bowler remained as productive as ever, finishing the season with 10 sacks, 73 tackles, and 28 tackles-for-loss. Now entering his age-29 season, Bleacher Report‘s Moe Moton believes the Ravens should go all-in and trade for the talented pass rusher. In a recent article, the NFL analyst said Baltimore should give up two first-round picks, Tavius Robinson, and linebacker Trenton Simpson for the star edge defender.

“In a deal with the Ravens, the Raiders should inquire about young defenders as the team transitions into a new system under defensive-minded head coach Jesse Minter,” Moton writes. “As he implements his plans, Baltimore may be willing to part ways with Tavius Robinson and Trenton Simpson, who were fit for the previous regime.”

Ravens, Raiders Connected In Maxx Crosby Trade Rumor

This is a lot to trade for one player, even one as good as Maxx Crosby. Historically speaking, an elite player is typically worth two first-round picks, so Moton’s proposal to send Baltimore’s 2026 and 2027 first-round picks makes perfect sense. However, including Robinson and Simpson in the deal might be asking a little too much.

While Tavius Robinson is nothing more than an unremarkable depth piece, Trenton Simpson showed plenty of promise over the past two seasons. Last year, the Clemson product appeared in all 17 games and recorded 2.5 sacks, 66 tackles, four tackles-for-loss, four quarterback hits, and a 70.7 PFF grade, the 27th-best mark in the league. He’s not making anyone forget about prime Ray Lewis, but he’s a solid starter and Baltimore doesn’t have a clear replacement waiting in the wings.

With that being said, Simpson’s success came under a previous regime. If first-year head coach Jesse Minter doesn’t think Simpson’s skills align with his defense, then he could easily send him away as part of a Maxx Crosby trade.

Super Bowl Bound?

The Ravens will miss those two first-round picks in a few years, but the short-term benefits might outweigh the long-term risks. Baltimore has had one of the most talented rosters in football for years on end, but it has yet to reach a Super Bowl with quarterback Lamar Jackson under center.

Perhaps Maxx Crosby is the missing piece who can finally get this team over the hump. Nobody on Baltimore’s defense had more than five sacks last year, so landing a game-changing talent like Crosby could completely reinvigorate this defense.