April 2, 2026, 3:41 p.m. ET
At the risk of reopening old wounds, it’s worth revisiting what almost was. There was a moment this offseason when the Baltimore Ravens appeared to be chasing something historic, signing Maxx Crosby. As most are aware, the deal fell apart in the 11th hour. Eric DeCosta and company pivoted, signing Trey Hendrickson to a four-year, $112 million deal instead.
Then, there was the fallout. One statement was that Baltimore had plans to acquire Crosby and Hendrickson. Can you imagine the fruit that combo would have produced? The idea of pairing those two on the roster wasn’t just ambitious. It was borderline unfair. Two elite pass rushers. One defense. Offensive coordinators everywhere would be losing sleep. Of course, it never materialized, but what if that wasn’t the end of the story?
What if the Ravens still have one more move left in them? Jadeveon Clowney remains available, and his recent comments support those theories that Baltimore would be wise to consider a reunion. Might he have quietly reopened the door for one?
The Ravens should certainly, at minimum, give a reunion with Jadeveon Clowney some additional thought.
No, he isn’t Crosby. Sure, it’s fair to state that Clowney’s best days might be behind him, but that could be said about most veterans. Dismissing what Clowney still brings to the table, however, would be a mistake. We’ve already seen how he fits in Baltimore. During his 2023 stint, a one-and-done affair with the organization, he delivered one of the most productive seasons of his career. He appeared in all 17 games, tallying 9.5 sacks, 43 total tackles, five passes defended, and two forced fumbles. That sack total matched a career high, and it wasn’t empty production. He made timely plays, including getting to the quarterback in the AFC Championship Game.
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More importantly, he thrived within the Ravens’ system. Baltimore didn’t ask him to carry the entire pass rush. They asked him to complement it, to disrupt, to set the edge, and to capitalize on opportunities created by the scheme and the talent around him. He did exactly that. He could flourish in a similar rotational role, so while the dream scenario of Crosby never came to life, this could serve as a decent consolation prize.
Let this be a reminder that, even when the biggest swings miss, the Ravens rarely stay quiet for long. The next move might still leave the rest of the league with something to worry about.