A relatively quiet final day before the start of the 2026 NFL league year has just exploded into life with one hell of a plot twist.
Wednesday was expected to be the day that the Maxx Crosby trade from the Las Vegas Raiders to the Baltimore Ravens would officially process. The Ravens would have the superstar pass rusher at the expense of two first-round picks, while the Raiders would have a disgruntled player off their team and a ton of draft capital for their nine millionth rebuild over the last
two decades.
Guess what, folks? Not happening anymore (H/T to Tone in The Feed for being faster to it than even the Field Gulls staff!).
Evidently the reason for this sudden reversal is a failed physical for Crosby, who did end the season on injured reserve after playing throughout 2025 with a significant meniscus injury. He’s since had surgery on the meniscus as of January, but evidently something regarding his knee got flagged in the two months post-surgery that had the Ravens backpedaling.
The Raiders can say goodbye to Baltimore’s firsts, welcome Crosby back, and also say goodbye to the $30 million in cap space that would’ve been made available had the trade gone through. They’ve been huge spenders in free agency, notably getting former Ravens center Tyler Linderbaum at a record-setting $27 million/year, as well as Minnesota Vikings receiver Jalen Nailor, Green Bay Packers linebacker Quay Walker, and Indianapolis Colts edge rusher Kwity Paye (among others). Oh yes, and the Raiders just traded Geno Smith but took on most of his 2026 salary to facilitate that move.
So now what happens next? Damned if I know any better than an actual NFL insider. Maybe the Ravens pivot to Trey Hendrickson, who’s a free agent and won’t cost two first-round picks. The Raiders have to figure out Plan B for trading Crosby. For the moment, if he’s already failed a physical I’m not sure a pair of first-round picks holds up as the going price anymore.
Would the Seattle Seahawks still take interest in a move for Crosby at a much lower cost? They wouldn’t, would they? There’s obviously some level of risk involved with Crosby’s health that has now changed the equation moving forward.
