LAS VEGAS — The Las Vegas Raiders shattered the NFL offseason Friday night. General Manager John Spytek sent five-time Pro Bowl edge rusher Maxx Crosby to the Baltimore Ravens for a massive haul that includes two first-round draft picks. Las Vegas secures the No. 14 overall selection in next month’s draft and Baltimore’s first-round pick in 2027.
The 28-year-old game-wrecker leaves the desert after seven grueling seasons. Crosby fought through severe knee injuries last year to rack up 10 sacks and a career-high 28 tackles for loss. Now, he heads to an AFC heavyweight desperate for his relentless motor. The official paperwork hits the league office when the NFL’s new year opens next week.
The Missing Piece for Baltimore
Baltimore’s defense couldn’t finish the job last season. They let quarterbacks breathe, tying for 28th in the league with a measly 30 total sacks. Crosby suffocates them. New Ravens head coach Jesse Minter needed an apex predator to anchor his front seven. He just got the best one available.
You could feel the weight of the moment in Crosby’s 13-minute farewell video released Saturday. He held back tears while addressing Raider Nation, a fanbase he expected to play for his entire career. The frustration of constant rebuilds finally boiled over late last season when the team shut him down and placed him on injured reserve, prompting him to leave the facility. Despite the turbulent exit, Crosby made it clear his sights are now locked on a Lombardi Trophy.
“I gave you all everything I got, and I have no regrets about that. I put everything into trying to win as a Raider. I’m not trying to get emotional already, but it’s tough, man. It’s been a damn journey… I know it’s going to be very difficult. I know there’s no guarantees in this, but I’m going to give everything in my heart and soul to bring a championship to Baltimore.”
— Maxx Crosby, Baltimore Ravens Defensive End
Playoff Implications / What’s Next
The Ravens operate in pure win-now mode. Lamar Jackson has the offense humming, but the defensive line lacked a true closer. Crosby instantly transforms Baltimore into a terrifying Super Bowl favorite. He slides perfectly into Minter’s aggressive scheme, fixing the exact weakness that plagued them last January.
For the Raiders, the teardown is complete. Las Vegas now holds the No. 1 and No. 14 overall picks in the 2026 NFL Draft. Spytek is stockpiling premium capital to build around their expected franchise quarterback, with Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza firmly in their sights. The Silver and Black are starting over. Baltimore is going all in.
