Ravens Go All-In, Land Maxx Crosby in Blockbuster Trade

By Jody Smith | Updated on Sat, Mar 7 2026 12:35 PM UTC

The Baltimore Ravens are acquiring five-time Pro Bowl DE Maxx Crosby from the Raiders for 2026 and 2027 first-round picks. The deal becomes official once Crosby passes a physical at the start of the new league year on March 11. It’s the first time in Baltimore’s 31-year history that the team has traded a first-round pick for a veteran player. Crosby immediately boosts a Ravens' defense that fell to 24th in yards allowed (354.5) last season.

What They're Saying

ESPN's Adam Schefter: "The Raiders agreed to trade five-time Pro-Bowl DE Maxx Crosby to the Baltimore Ravens in exchange for 2026 and 2027 first-round picks. The trade cannot be processed until next week, but it is in place. And Crosby is expected to be a Raven with two 1s back to Vegas."

2026 Fantasy Football Impact

Crosby, 28, significantly upgrades a struggling Ravens pass rush that totaled just 30 sacks in 2025, Baltimore’s fewest in 15 years. Crosby has averaged 10 sacks per year in his seven seasons while missing only seven starts.

Two of those absences came at the tail-end of last season, when the Raiders placed Crosby on IR with a knee injury while Crosby claimed he was healthy. The relationship between Crosby and the Raiders became untenable after that.

Baltimore sent their 2026 first-round pick (14th overall) and a 2027 first to the rebuilding Raiders for Crosby in one of the biggest moves the Ravens have ever made. The addition of Crosby will immediately help new HC Jesse Minter turn around a defense that struggled last season.

Crosby becomes just the 15th player in NFL history to cost a team two or more first-round picks.

Meanwhile, the Raiders get a massive haul. Las Vegas already has the first pick in the 2026 NFL Draft and is all but assured of taking Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza after dumping 2025 starter Geno Smith.

The Raiders will fully embrace a rebuild. They also have three fourth-round picks and the Jets' sixth-rounder in the 2026 NFL Draft.

We'll see if Baltimore's uncharacteristic move to make a splash move rather than rely on the draft works out, and if the Raiders' trading away one of the league's top defenders helps turn around a listless franchise.

Jody Smith, Analyst

Jody Smith has been playing fantasy football for over 30 years, the last 15 as an analyst, writer, and editor. Jody's rankings have been among the most consistent, placing him inside the top-10 in multi-year accuracy.