Raiders trading Maxx Crosby to Ravens for big draft-pick haul

Maxx Crosby. Amber Searls-Imagn Images

Raiders agree to trade Maxx Crosby to Ravens for big draft-pick haul

By Adam Gretz | Last updated Mar 6, 2026 9:59 PM ET

Maxx Crosby seemed frustrated with the Las Vegas Raiders and wanted a change. The Baltimore Ravens have a desperate need for pass-rushing help. Now everybody is getting what they want.

According to a report from ESPN's Adam Schefter on Friday night, the Raiders have agreed to trade Crosby to the Ravens for two first-round draft picks, including the No. 14 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

The Raiders will also get the Ravens' 2027 first-round pick as part of the trade.

The trade cannot become official until the start of the new league year next week.

Ravens get the pass-rushing help they needed

A lot of things went wrong for the Ravens in 2025, including an injury to superstar quarterback Lamar Jackson. As damaging as Jackson's injury was to their chances, it was far from the only issue.

ESPN sources: the Raiders agreed to trade five-time Pro-Bowl DE Maxx Crosby to the Baltimore Ravens in exchange for 2026 and 2027 first-round picks.

The trade cannot be processed until next week, but it is in place. And Crosby is expected to be a Raven with two 1s back to Vegas. pic.twitter.com/rfExCLpXfF
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 7, 2026

The defense, and especially the lack of a consistent pass rush, was just as big of an issue and played a major role in taking the Ravens from a preseason Super Bowl favorite to a team that finished with a losing record (8-9) and missed the playoffs entirely.

The Ravens defense recorded just 30 sacks during the 2025 season, a number that topped only two teams.

Crosby should, in theory, help fix that.

Crosby appeared in 15 games for the Raiders in 2025, recording 10 sacks, an interception, six pass defenses, two forced fumbles, 28 tackles for loss and 20 quarterback hits.

On paper, it makes complete sense for the Ravens and will no doubt make them a preseason favorite in the AFC again. Especially with a healthy Jackson. The concern is going to be that Crosby is going to turn 29 years old in August and is coming off a meniscus injury that required surgery.

Crosby has played through injuries numerous times in his career and still produced, but the closer a player gets to their 30th birthday, the more concerning that can be. It is a risk they are willing to take.

The Raiders, meanwhile, take a big step backward in the short term but do get a haul of draft picks to really kickstart their rebuild. They now have two top-15 picks in the 2025 class, including the No. 1 overall pick that is almost certainly going to be used on Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza.

Adam Gretz

Adam Gretz is a freelance writer based in Pittsburgh. He covers the NHL, NFL, MLB and NBA. Baseball is his favorite sport -- he is nearly halfway through his goal of seeing a game in every MLB ballpark. Catch him on Twitter @AGretz

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