NFL executive gives Raiders some Maxx Crosby advice after failed Ravens trade

Roughly one month ago, people associated with the Las Vegas Raiders believed that the club would be getting a pair of first-round draft picks from the Baltimore Ravens for star pass-rusher Maxx Crosby. 

However, it now appears that Crosby will stay with the Raiders through the start of the 2026 season after Baltimore backed out of that trade because the 28-year-old reportedly failed a physical for reasons related to the meniscus repair he needed in January. 

That said, at least one unnamed NFL executive who recently spoke with Mike Sando of The Athletic thinks the Raiders should continue taking calls from interested clubs about Crosby's services. 

What Raiders SHOULD do with Maxx Crosby but probably WILL do

"They should because the windows don’t match up for them being good and Crosby making what he is making," the executive said while referencing the Raiders' roster and the three-year contract extension that Crosby signed last offseason. "But I don’t think they want to be perceived as being taken advantage of again, and so I don’t think they will do that."

While Dallas Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones has seemingly left the door slightly open for revisiting a Crosby-related trade, the perception exists that Crosby's value as a tradeable asset took a hit after the Ravens allegedly became concerned about a "degenerative issue" in his knee. 

Both Raiders general manager John Spytek and first-year head coach Klint Kubiak sound willing to hold onto Crosby. Additionally, the Raiders reportedly will have veteran Kirk Cousins serving as their Week 1 starting quarterback over Indiana Hoosiers star and presumed No. 1 overall draft pick Fernando Mendoza.

Cousins may not be elite, but signing him is a win-now type of move for a team that should want to keep Crosby happy if it isn't shopping him following all that occurred in March. 

How might Raiders recover draft picks lost via failed Maxx Crosby trade?

The overall state of the Raiders' squad has some thinking that Spytek could still look to stockpile draft assets. 

"They will probably wind up trading someone else as a result (to move salary and add picks)," a different executive said about how the Raiders will respond to still having Crosby on their roster. 

It remains to be seen who could be involved in such a deal before the upcoming NFL Draft gets underway on April 23.