NFL executives share theory for why Ravens backed out of trade for Raiders' Maxx Crosby

The NFL community was stunned to learn that the Baltimore Ravens had backed out of their agreement to send two first-round draft picks to the Las Vegas Raiders for star pass-rusher Maxx Crosby after Crosby reportedly did not pass his physical.

Shortly after that news broke, one unnamed general manager told league insider Tom Pelissero of NFL Network that "the feelings around the league" were that backing out of the trade "is very much bull---- on Baltimore’s part." 

Wednesday morning, Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated shared more reactions to Tuesday's stunning developments. 

NFL GMs believe Ravens backed out of Maxx Crosby trade for this reason

"I talked to three GMs who believed that the root of all this was the Ravens getting cold feet — and that Baltimore had to have the information, everyone knew about the knee, and it was pretty unlikely that any disqualifying surprise surfaced during the physical," Breer wrote. "The Ravens’ folks I subsequently spoke with vehemently denied that. Regardless, some suspicion will be cast on that organization moving forward. And so Baltimore’s next moves will be critical, because now everyone will be watching to see if anything underhanded is afoot."

Breer was referencing how a February report revealed that Crosby's recovery from the meniscus repair he needed following the 2025 season would be "measured in months, not weeks." Thus, the Ravens should have understood Crosby would not be 100 percent when he showed up at the team facility for his physical. 

Via a statement shared on X, agent CJ LaBoy insisted that Crosby "continues to be on track in his recovery and if anything is ahead of schedule according to his surgeon, Dr. Neal El Attrache." That may be the case, but it doesn't necessarily mean Crosby's physical didn't go as the Ravens had expected. 

Why Ravens may have given Maxx Crosby a failing grade for physical

"My understanding is that the Ravens were not comfortable with the condition of Crosby’s knee — in which he had a meniscus repair — after Tuesday’s physical," Breer added. "...A football player failing his physical generally isn’t a black-and-white thing. Players are given a score from the doctor, and that score is adjusted based on the level of investment the team must make to acquire the player. Were Crosby coming in, for argument’s sake, for a seventh-round pick, he’d likely have passed the physical, because there would have been less risk than there was with the Ravens giving up two first-rounders to acquire him."

Breer also mentioned that "teams interested before Crosby was traded did have concerns about the toll his workload and breakneck playing style might’ve taken on him" during his pro career, which began when he was drafted in 2019. 

Whatever the case, Crosby remains a Raiders player who is under contract via the three-year, $106.5M extension the two sides signed last offseason. What happens next regarding the working relationship between the two parties is anybody's guess.