Maxx Crosby Trade to Baltimore Ravens: Two First-Round Picks for NFL's Most Dominant Pass Rusher
The NFL offseason's most seismic trade dropped Friday night, March 7, when the Las Vegas Raiders agreed to send five-time Pro Bowl edge rusher Maxx Crosby to the Baltimore Ravens in exchange for two first-round draft picks. The blockbuster deal instantly reshuffled the AFC power structure heading into 2026, and the entire league — including rival players — took notice.
Maxx Crosby Trade Details: Ravens Send 2026 and 2027 First-Round Picks to Las Vegas Raiders
ESPN's Adam Schefter first reported the agreement: the Raiders traded five-time Pro Bowl defensive end Maxx Crosby to the Baltimore Ravens in exchange for Baltimore's 2026 and 2027 first-round draft picks. The trade cannot be processed until next week but is fully in place.
The 2026 first-round pick heading to Las Vegas is 14th overall, giving the rebuilding Raiders significant ammunition for their long-term roster rebuild.
Crosby carries a $30.7 million salary cap hit for 2026 and $29.7 million for 2027, and remains under contract through the 2029 season. He could work out a new deal with Baltimore at some point during his tenure.
Maxx Crosby Stats and Career Numbers That Made Baltimore Go All-In
Crosby, 28, is a five-time Pro Bowler whose 69.5 career sacks since 2019 are more than double what anyone has produced in Baltimore over that same span. Defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike led the Ravens with just 30 sacks since 2019 — a glaring contrast that illustrates how desperately Baltimore needed this move.
Crosby finished the 2025 season with 73 tackles, 10 sacks, two forced fumbles, and one interception. He has played over 94% of the Raiders' defensive snaps in four consecutive seasons — a durability record virtually unmatched among elite pass rushers.
The Ravens saw Crosby's destruction up close in September 2024, when he went into M&T Bank Stadium and posted six tackles, four tackles for loss, and two sacks — including one where he looped through the middle and flattened Lamar Jackson flat on his back. Baltimore wanted that energy on their sideline.
How Maxx Crosby Found Out About the Ravens Trade
Crosby found out about the Raiders-Ravens trade while driving to a Power Slap event in Las Vegas on Friday night, UFC CEO Dana White revealed at a Zuffa boxing press conference Monday.
Crosby delivered a nearly 13-minute monologue on social media that served simultaneously as his farewell to Las Vegas and his hello to Baltimore. He called it the end of a chapter and expressed genuine excitement about playing with the Ravens' defensive scheme under new head coach Jesse Minter.
Ja'Marr Chase, AFC North Rivals Furious Over Maxx Crosby Ravens Trade
Bengals star Ja'Marr Chase unleashed an expletive-filled rant on a livestream after learning the Ravens had traded for Crosby, with the wide receiver visibly rattled by the prospect of facing him twice a year.
Reports later surfaced that the Cincinnati Bengals had considered making their own blockbuster move for Crosby before Baltimore ultimately won the bidding. Chase's reaction suggested he was well aware of what his team had missed out on.
Baltimore's Super Bowl odds skyrocketed to third in the NFL immediately following the Maxx Crosby trade announcement, a rapid market shift that reflects how dramatically one player can alter a franchise's championship trajectory.
What the Maxx Crosby Trade Means for the 2026 NFL Draft Order and the Raiders
With Baltimore's 14th overall pick now headed to Las Vegas, the Raiders enter the 2026 NFL Draft with significant extra capital. The franchise is in full rebuild mode and will use the acquired picks to target foundational players under new general manager Tom Telesco.
The Ravens paid a steep price for Maxx Crosby, but that is what contending teams do when they believe they are in a genuine hunt for a championship. Paired with Lamar Jackson on offense, a defense anchored by Crosby gives Baltimore one of the most complete rosters in the NFL heading into 2026.
