New information has emerged regarding why the Baltimore Ravens decided to withdraw from the Maxx Crosby trade.
Doctors assured the Ravens that Crosby would likely be able to play in 2026, according to Ryan McFadden of ESPN. However, Baltimore was worried about a degenerative issue in Crosby’s knee that they feared would impact his durability over the next several years.
That explanation still has not satisfied others around the league. Rivals point to the fact that the Ravens had access to imaging on Crosby’s knee before agreeing to the deal, furthering the theory that the organization simply got cold feet as the trade was about to be completed.
Crosby, 28, has dealt with knee issues in 2023 and 2025, though he played through them most of the time. He also had ankle problems in 2024, but up until this season, he has generally been reliably available throughout his career.
For now, Crosby remains with the Raiders, who are not inclined to lower the asking price on him. Expect him to be extremely motivated next time he faces Baltimore, whenever that may be.
Crosby remains one of the most feared defensive players in the NFL. Despite battling through injuries, he still collected 10 sacks through 15 games in 2025, marking the fourth time in his career that he has reached double-digit sacks.
