The Las Vegas Raiders were one of the more active teams during the “legal tampering” portion of free agency after they agreed to trade star pass-rusher Maxx Crosby to the Baltimore Ravens for two first-round draft picks at the start of the new league year at 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday.
However, the Raiders’ roster-building plans were disrupted on Tuesday night when it was learned that the Ravens were backing out of the trade agreement after Crosby reportedly failed his physical. Some understandably wondered whether the Raiders could afford to both welcome Crosby back and officially complete the free-agency deals they had agreed to. It sounds like Crosby may need to rethink his future.
Could Maxx Crosby now want to stay with Raiders?
According to Vincent Bonsignore of the California Post, two league sources confirmed that the Raiders should have the needed salary-cap space “to welcome Maxx back and honor all the free agent commitments they have made.”
“If so,” Bonsignore added, “the team Crosby returns to is far different than the one he briefly left. Enough to want to stay?”
Earlier this week, a report revealed that Crosby “quietly” requested a trade after the 2025 season ended, and that he was shut down by the team for the rest of the season against his wishes in late December because of a lingering knee injury. Since then, however, the Raiders have agreed to add key pieces to the roster, including center Tyler Linderbaum, edge-rusher Kwity Paye, linebacker Quay Walker and wide receiver Jalen Nailor.
Furthermore, on Wednesday night, Crosby spoke out for the first time since the failed trade, and his comments hint that he’ll stay in Las Vegas.
Additionally, the Raiders are widely expected to make Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza the first overall pick of the 2026 NFL Draft. Meanwhile, Crosby is under contract via the three-year, $106.5M contract extension he and the Raiders signed last offseason.
Raiders “prepared” to make this Maxx Crosby move
It’s assumed that Crosby failed his physical with the Ravens for a reason related to the meniscus repair he needed when the Raiders prematurely ended his 2025 season. Las Vegas seemingly isn’t worried about what the 28-year-old will and won’t be following that procedure.
“Raiders already have received calls from ‘several’ teams inquiring about the availability of Maxx Crosby in a trade,” ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter reported late Tuesday night. “For now, the Raiders are prepared to get Crosby healthy and have him play for Las Vegas. But they are listening to other teams.”
Via a statement shared on X (formerly known as Twitter), agent CJ LaBoy vowed that Crosby “remains on track to return during the offseason program & will undoubtedly return as the dominant game wrecker he has been these past 7 seasons.”
As of now, it appears there’s at least a chance that such a return will involve Crosby featuring for the Raiders this coming September.
