Will Detroit Lions Re-Enter The Maxx Crosby Sweepstakes?

The NFL universe experienced shockwaves Tuesday night. News of Maxx Crosby’s trade to the Baltimore Ravens being nixed reverberated across the league. The trade, which sent Crosby from the Las Vegas Ravens to Baltimore for two first-round picks, was canceled after Baltimore claimed Crosby failed his physical. With Crosby potentially back on the trade market, expect plenty of teams to make a pitch for the five-time Pro-Bowler’s services. The Lions were reportedly willing to meet the Raiders’ price. That was before legal problems for cornerback Terrion Arnold brought trade talks to a screeching halt.

Now that Crosby is back in Vegas, will the Detroit Lions re-enter the Maxx Crosby sweepstakes?

Will Detroit Lions Re-Enter The Maxx Crosby Sweepstakes?

What Happened With The Crosby Trade?

The Raiders and Ravens agreed to the trade on Friday, March 6. However, due to league rules, the trade couldn’t become official until the start of the new league year, Wednesday, March 11. The blockbuster deal had the potential to shift the balance of power in the AFC. A great player like Crosby set to join an already-good Ravens team clearly pushed Baltimore to be the Favorite in the AFC North.

Las Vegas, on the other hand, had entered full rebuilding mode. The Raiders are widely expected to select Fernando Mendoza with the top pick in next month’s draft. They also made waves by signing potentially the top overall free agent, center Tyler Linderbaum (coincidentally, a former Raven), to a record three-year, $81 million contract. Adding the two additional first-round picks from Baltimore added to the Raiders’ trove of assets as they appear set to enter a new era.

However, the Ravens announced Tuesday night that Crosby had failed his physical, usually only a formality after a trade is accepted. The mega-deal was off. News spread through NFL circles like wildfire. Many league executives aren’t buying Baltimore’s story, claiming that the Ravens simply “backed out” of the trade. Because the trade had not yet been officially consummated, Crosby reverted to the Raiders’ roster. Although he expressed that he has no ill will towards the Raiders, it is widely expected that the franchise will still look to trade him.

In the wake of the nixed trade, the Ravens signed free agent pass rusher Trey Hendrickson.

Will The Lions Re-Ignite Their Interest?

Detroit has long needed an edge rusher to pair with Aidan Hutchinson. That spot has been a revolving door for years, as 2022 second-round pick John Pascal, free agent signee Marcus Davenport, and others have not been able to live up to the task. Last season saw Al-Quadin Muhammad take the mantle, and he responded with a career year, notching 11 sacks. However, Muhammad is a free agent, and while he proved he is an effective sack artist, he is not the capable run-stopper Detroit looks for in its edge rushers. Even if the soon-to-be 31-year-old stays in Detroit, he is better suited as a situational pass-rusher, not an every-down lineman.

The Lions have been known to covet Crosby, a Michigan native. The thought of him lining up across the line from Hutchinson is salivating. The pair would immediately become the most feared duo in the league. Now that Crosby could be available again, will GM Brad Holmes finally be able to seal the deal?

Can Detroit Afford Crosby?

As it stands right now, no. The Lions have limited cap space to add players. That could easily change, as Detroit can create plenty of new cap room by restructuring the contracts of current players like Jared Goff or Amon-Ra St. Brown. The bottom line is that if the Lions want Crosby, they can make it happen. The only question is whether or not they want to.

Trading multiple first-round picks is a steep price, no matter how good the player is. Luckily for Detroit, Crosby’s new price is expected to go down. Several teams that may have been interested have already brought in new players via free agency. The Dallas Cowboys, also involved in trade talks with Las Vegas, were not willing to meet the Raiders’ asking price. The Cowboys have since pivoted and made a trade for Rashan Gary, formerly of the Green Bay Packers, and are not expected to renew their pursuit of Crosby.

With many potential suitors seemingly out of the Crosby sweepstakes, the Lions are in a prime spot to take advantage. A deal for Crosby would instantly bring Detroit back to Super Bowl contention after a disappointing 2025 season. The entire defense benefits from adding a player like Crosby. Acquiring Crosby would become one of the most important moves in Holmes’ tenure as GM.

So far in free agency, the Lions’ biggest move has been prying center Cade Mays away from the Carolina Panthers. Mays’ deal with Detroit is for three years and $25 million. Detroit’s biggest need this offseason was center, and Holmes was able to fill it with an ascending player at a reasonable cost.

The Lions have also brought in Isiah Pacheco, Teddy Bridgewater, and Larry Borom. All are solid, yet unspectacular additions. Maxx Crosby could be the icing on the cake for a successful offseason in the Motor City. Big trades are always risky, but players like Crosby don’t become available very often. However, trading for Maxx Crosby is well worth the risk.