Maxx Crosby Traded to Ravens From Raiders, Updated Salary Cap, Depth Charts, NFL Draft Picks

Both the Baltimore Ravens and Las Vegas Raiders' outlooks for 2026 look very different after Friday night's blockbuster trade of Maxx Crosby.

The Ravens are acquiring Crosby from the Raiders in exchange for first-round picks in 2026 and 2027, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Friday.

The trade left the Raiders with $5.1 million in dead cap while allowing the team to clear out $30.69 million in cap space, per Over the Cap.

The Raiders now have an NFL-high $119 million in cap space, per Spotrac.

Crosby is owed $30.7 million for next season, and his salary becomes guaranteed March 13.

Spotrac had previously reported that Crosby's next team could get his cap hit down to $7.73 million by restructuring his salary.

The trade gives the Raiders a total of five first-round picks in the next three drafts, while the Ravens will be left without another first-rounder until 2028, per Spotrac.

In return, the Ravens will bolster their defense with one of the best edge defenders in the NFL. Here are some notable defenders on the Ravens' projected depth chart:

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DE: Maxx Crosby

NT: Travis Jones

DT: Broderick Washington Jr.

SS: Kyle Hamilton

ILB: Roquan Smith

DE: Nnamdi Madubuike

CB: Nate Wiggins

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The Raiders could meanwhile look for Tyree Wilson to step up in Crosby's place on the defensive line. The Las Vegas defensive line is full of question marks given the pending free agent status of players like Eric Stokes, Devin White, Malcolm Koonce and Jamal Adams.

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LDE: Tyree Wilson

NT: Adam Butler

DT: Jonah Laulu

SS: Jeremy Chinn

LB: Jamal Adams

DE: Malcolm Koonce

CB: Eric Stokes

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That potential restructuring could give the Ravens cap relief after the trade, but they'll need to clear out enough space before the deal to take on Crosby's contract.

The Ravens currently sit about $10 million over the salary cap with just five days left until the league's compliance deadline, per Spotrac.

Preparing the deal for Crosby will put pressure on the Ravens to find cap space by making changes to star quarterback Lamar Jackson's contract, which is currently set to cost $74.5 million against the 2026 cap.

The Ravens could come to agreement with Jackson on an extension, allowing the franchise to redistribute some of that cap hit into the future.

There is also a short-term solution with which Baltimore could lower next season's cap hit by about $30 million while pushing more money onto Jackson's 2027 hit, per ESPN's Jamison Hensley.

The Raiders will now get an immediate chance to start rebuilding their defense in the 2026 NFL draft, when thanks to the trade the franchise will now hold both the No. 8 and No. 14 picks.

The latest Bleacher Report 2026 mock draft projects the No. 8 pick as Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate and No. 14 as guard Olaivavega Ioane.

Should the Raiders decide to target a top defensive player, however, the franchise could potentially use those two picks to trade up and snag a top defender like Texas' David Bailey, Ohio State's Arvell Reese or Ohio State's Sonny Styles.

The Ravens will hope loading up on defense can help set up the franchise to make a run to the postseason after a disappointing 8-9 finish to their 2025 campaign.

A top priority for the Ravens this offseason could be bringing in another wide receiver for Jackson.

Now that Baltimore isn't set to get on the board until the No. 45 pick of the upcoming draft, the Ravens might need to turn to the trade market or free agency in order to secure another top target.