Maxx Crosby Trade to Ravens: Las Vegas Ships Star Pass Rusher to Baltimore for Two First-Round Picks
The NFL world just stopped. ESPN's Adam Schefter broke the news on March 7, 2026, that the Las Vegas Raiders agreed to trade five-time Pro Bowl defensive end Maxx Crosby to the Baltimore Ravens in exchange for 2026 and 2027 first-round picks. The Maxx Crosby trade to the Ravens is the biggest NFL blockbuster of the offseason — and it changes the balance of power across the entire AFC.
Maxx Crosby Trade Details: What the Ravens Gave Up
The Ravens are sending their 2026 first-round pick — the 14th overall selection — along with their 2027 first-round pick to the Las Vegas Raiders in exchange for Crosby.
This is the biggest trade in Ravens franchise history. Before landing Maxx Crosby, the highest draft pick Baltimore had ever given up for a veteran was a second-rounder for linebacker Roquan Smith in November 2022. The Ravens have historically guarded their draft capital more fiercely than almost any team in the NFL.
The Dallas Cowboys had been in the running, offering a first- and second-round pick for Maxx Crosby. Baltimore's two-first-round offer beat them out decisively. The Bills, Bears, and Patriots were also linked to Crosby before the Ravens won the sweepstakes.
Who Is Maxx Crosby and Why the Ravens Needed Him
Crosby, 28, has logged 69.5 sacks over seven NFL seasons, all with the Las Vegas Raiders. He plays with a physical, relentless edge and has produced four double-digit sack seasons throughout his career.
Since entering the league in 2019, Crosby has accumulated 360 quarterback pressures — 29 more than any other player over that same span, per ESPN Research. He is widely regarded as one of the most disruptive defensive players in the game.
The Ravens desperately needed a pass rusher after totaling just 30 sacks last season — Baltimore's fewest in 15 years. It was also the first time since the Ravens' inaugural 1996 season that the team did not have a single edge rusher with more than 4.5 sacks.
Maxx Crosby Contract and Cap Hit With Baltimore Ravens
Crosby will carry a salary cap hit of $35.8 million for 2026, and the Ravens will have him under team control for four seasons. That long-term team control was a critical factor in Baltimore's decision to surrender two first-round picks.
Crosby's current deal made him the highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL when it was signed, at $35.5 million per year. That figure has since been surpassed by Aidan Hutchinson at $45 million and Micah Parsons at $46.5 million per year. A contract extension discussion in Baltimore is expected to follow.
Raiders Draft Picks 2026 and What Las Vegas Gets Back
The Las Vegas Raiders receive the Ravens' 2026 first-round pick at No. 14 overall and an additional 2027 first-round pick. For a Raiders team in full rebuild mode under new head coach Klint Kubiak, landing two premium first-round picks is a significant haul.
Las Vegas had originally wanted two first-round picks plus a player in any Maxx Crosby trade — described as the "Micah Parsons package." The Raiders ultimately opted to take less after Crosby had mentally moved on from the organization.
Ravens 2026 Draft Picks and NFL Draft Order Impact
The Ravens are sending the 14th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft to Las Vegas as part of the Maxx Crosby trade. Baltimore now enters the 2026 NFL Draft without a first-round selection for the first time in years.
The Maxx Crosby addition gives new Ravens head coach Jesse Minter — whose expertise is defense — the most decorated and feared pass rusher Baltimore has had in his prime since Terrell Suggs, who played for the Ravens from 2003 to 2018. The trade cannot be officially processed until the start of the 2026 NFL league year next week, but it is firmly in place.
