The Baltimore Ravens stunned the NFL on Tuesday night by backing out of an agreement to trade for Las Vegas Raiders star pass rusher Maxx Crosby.
“The Baltimore Ravens have backed out of our trade agreement for Maxx Crosby,” the Raiders announced in an unprecedented call-out of another franchise on social media. “We will have no further comment at this time.”
Crosby, 28, a five-time Pro Bowler, had traveled to Baltimore to meet his new coaches and prepare for Wednesday’s official signing. He posted a video of the Baltimore skyline on his Instagram account.
But the Ravens, it turns out, failed Crosby on his physical medical examination and therefore reneged on the trade.
Crosby underwent successful surgery on a torn meniscus in his left knee in January, so it was well known that he was recovering from that procedure when the Ravens agreed to the original trade in the first place.
So numerous people in the NFL were confused about how the Ravens could pull this last minute and were wondering if something else had prompted their last-minute decision to pull out.
“This is very much bulls— on Baltimore’s part,” one GM told NFL Network late Tuesday night.
The news sent shockwaves through the league, starting with the Raiders’ building.
Vegas was acquiring two first-round picks from Baltimore in the deal, on top of trading away an expensive and disgruntled player who no longer wanted to play in Sin City.
They proceeded to add players in free agency with an understanding of having their salary cap space at a certain number and their draft assets increased for more young players at cost control.
Instead, Crosby is now back on their books, and the Raiders no longer likely have the same market for him.
The Dallas Cowboys, for example, who were bidding against the Ravens initially for Crosby and lost out, have moved on after acquiring defensive end Rashan Gary in a trade with the Green Bay Packers.
The Raiders could try to repair their damaged relationship with Crosby and retain him. He is their best player, after all. But Crosby no longer wants to play in Vegas after GM John Spytek shut Crosby down late last season so the Raiders could tank for the No. 1 pick.
Crosby considered that unforgivable.
The Philadelphia Eagles are one of the teams to watch to potentially swoop in on Crosby. GM Howie Roseman is always a top contender in moments like these for premier players.
The Ravens could pivot to Cincinnati Bengals edge rusher Trey Hendrickson or be left with a similarly underwhelming pass rush to last year’s.
Baltimore has reneged on agreements in the past due to players not passing physicals, such as wide receiver Ryan Grant and defensive tackle Michael Brockers in 2020, according to the Athletic. But what the Ravens did on Tuesday night was considered by many in the league to be bad business.
The question now is how the Raiders resolve an unusual situation to make their team better in the short and long term. And how the NFL and other teams now treat and view the Ravens the next time they pick up the phone.