More GMs, executives rip Ravens over backing out of trade for Raiders' Maxx Crosby

The most stunning development of the "legal tampering" portion of free agency involved the Baltimore Ravens backing out of their agreement to acquire star pass-rusher Maxx Crosby from the Las Vegas Raiders for two first-round draft picks after Crosby reportedly did not pass his physical. 

At least three unnamed general managers were quick to say that they felt the Ravens simply got "cold feet" regarding the trade for the 28-year-old, who needed a meniscus repair following the 2025 season. For a piece published on Wednesday, NFL insider Jason La Canfora of SportsBoom US spoke with multiple league executives about their reactions to the shocking Crosby-related development. 

Will teams no longer trust Ravens with trades? 

"I’m not buying that this is a medical thing," one general manager told La Canfora. "I don’t think too many of us (general managers) are going to buy that. I think [Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta] was looking at his roster and he’s scared as s—. He’s p— at the Raiders for the contract they gave [former Ravens center Tyler Linderbaum], and he’s losing all his free agents, and he wants those picks back… I’m telling you, I don’t think this is about the medical. DeCosta is going to have real problems now. How can you trust him? How do you do a deal with him after this? This is really bad."

That general manager was referencing how the Raiders and Linderbaum agreed to a three-year deal reportedly worth $81M with $60M guaranteed. For what it's worth, having Crosby back on the books at the start of the new league year at 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday is not expected to impact deals the Raiders agreed to with other players. 

"This smells like bull— to me," a different general manager told La Canfora about the Ravens backing out of the trade. "You do a trade of this magnitude, with the player missing time at the end of the season, you can get ahead of all of that and ask for more imaging and get your hands on that stuff sooner if you have any concerns. I think DeCosta got cold feet." 

Does Lamar Jackson have anything to do with Ravens, Maxx Crosby situation?

On Wednesday morning, Dr. Neal ElAttrache insisted that Crosby "is doing very well in the early part of his rehab" and "is certainly on track in his planned program." Meanwhile, one NFL personnel executive suggested to La Canfora that the Ravens' decision not to complete the Crosby trade was at least somewhat related to the situation involving quarterback Lamar Jackson.

Jackson and the Ravens are expected to sign an extension at some point during the offseason. 

"I hear he’s having trouble getting Lamar to answer his phone and do a new deal with him," the executive said about DeCosta. "So you fail Crosby on a physical to save the picks and try to start filling all the holes he has because he can’t sign his draft picks to extensions before they hit the market." 

Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated spoke with people associated with the Ravens who "vehemently denied" the "cold feet" accusation regarding the Crosby deal. Regardless of whatever did and/or didn't happen, it now seems the Ravens will move on with Trey Hendrickson after he agreed to a deal with the team early Wednesday morning.