{"id":686743,"date":"2026-05-22T06:13:10","date_gmt":"2026-05-22T06:13:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/686743\/"},"modified":"2026-05-22T06:13:10","modified_gmt":"2026-05-22T06:13:10","slug":"ravens-maxx-crosby-miss-named-one-of-nfls-worst-offseason-moves","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/686743\/","title":{"rendered":"Ravens\u2019 Maxx Crosby Miss Named One of NFL\u2019s Worst Offseason Moves"},"content":{"rendered":"

One of the biggest surprises of the NFL<\/a> offseason came when the Ravens<\/a> backed out of the blockbuster trade that would\u2019ve sent star edge-rusher Maxx Crosby<\/a> to Baltimore<\/a> from the Las Vegas Raiders<\/a> for two first-round picks.<\/p>\n

The team scored a solid consolation prize in signing four-time Pro Bowl defensive end Trey Hendrickson<\/a> to a four-year, $112 million deal, but the optics of the nixed trade seemingly painted the Ravens in an unfavorable light with the league\u2019s other 31 teams.<\/p>\n

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ESPN\u2019s Bill Barnwell also believes by backing out of the Crosby deal, the Ravens ultimately hurt themselves in free agency, which is why he wrote Baltimore\u2019s Crosby fiasco was the team\u2019s worst move of the offseason.<\/p>\n

\u201cI wasn\u2019t a huge fan of the original trade for Crosby, and I do think the Ravens probably ended up in a better situation by holding onto their first-round picks and landing on a lesser player in Hendrickson,\u201d Barnwell stated<\/a>. \u201cAnd I\u2019m not sure I truly believe that GM Eric DeCosta really intended to add both Crosby and Hendrickson to his roster given how much that would have cost a team that\u2019s already in a difficult cap situation.<\/p>\n

\"Las<\/p>\n

Maxx Crosby #98 of the Las Vegas Raiders looks on before the game against the Cleveland Browns at Allegiant Stadium on November 23, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

\u201cBut what\u2019s done is done, and in the process, it might have hurt the Ravens more by keeping them out of the market for their existing free agents. A lot of talent walked out the door in Baltimore before Crosby\u2019s physical was annulled, including Tyler Linderbaum<\/a>, Isaiah Likely<\/a> and Charlie Kolar<\/a>. Could the Ravens have kept some of those players had they resolved the Crosby situation before the legal negotiating period began?\u201d<\/p>\n

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Though Hendrickson is an excellent pass-rusher in his own right \u2014 he\u2019s totaled 396 pressures, 236 hurries, 75 QB hits, 74.5 sacks over the last six seasons \u2014 Crosby is more of a dynamic edge-rusher, and he\u2019s three years younger.<\/p>\n

Crosby, a five-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro selection, has totaled 483 pressures, 311 hurries, 95 QB hits, and 69.5 sacks over his seven-year career.<\/p>\n

Seemingly every analyst agrees adding Hendrickson makes the Ravens defense good, but adding Crosby could\u2019ve made it elite. If Crosby has another Pro Bowl-caliber season in 2026 and Hendrickson has another down year (he played in just seven games and recorded four sacks), Baltimore could regret its decision.<\/p>\n

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