A blockbuster deal sent shockwaves throughout the NFL on Friday. (And no, it wasn\u2019t A.J. Brown heading to the New England Patriots.)<\/p>\n
When the Las Vegas Raiders sent six-time Pro Bowl edge defender Maxx Crosby to the Baltimore Ravens for two first-round NFL draft<\/a> picks in both 2026 and 2027, the league generally viewed the move as a win for both sides.<\/p>\n Crosby will be 29 when the season begins, and his timeline for competing for a championship no longer aligns with the Raiders\u2019 rebuild. Instead, he goes to a Baltimore squad that is expected to heavily compete for a Super Bowl next year. <\/p>\n Believe it or not, the trade that sent Crosby to Charm City also impacts the New York Jets, both positively and negatively, going forward.<\/p>\n Good: Jets got more for Sauce Gardner<\/p>\n The deal that shipped Crosby to Baltimore should be seen as an example of excellent asset management by the Raiders. Crosby has 44.5 sacks combined in his last four years, and he\u2019s been on the cusp of a First-Team All-Pro nod multiple times.<\/p>\n To receive two first-round picks for him shows the Raiders understood his value. <\/p>\n The Jets were in a similar boat just a few months ago. <\/p>\n New York traded All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner<\/a> for two first-round picks and wide receiver Adonai Mitchell to the Indianapolis Colts. The move was seen as the start of a teardown for Gang Green<\/p>\n Jets general manager Darren Mougey, like the Raiders\u2019 John Spytek, understood the market for their star players and also understood that their road to contention may be beyond what their stars could give them. In their minds, it was better to cut ties completely than risk prolonging the conversation.<\/p>\n