Broncos' Sean Payton Reveals Text to Maxx Crosby After Reported Trade to Ravens from Raiders

The Las Vegas Raiders have agreed to trade five-time Pro Bowl defensive end Maxx Crosby to the Baltimore Ravens for a pair of first-round draft picks, and that has to make his soon-to-be former AFC West rivals happy.

Count Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton among them, according to comments to Fox Sports' Jay Glazer:

Crosby faced Payton's Broncos six times since the head coach arrived in Denver in 2023. In six games, the former Eastern Michigan star amassed five sacks, 24 tackles (15 solo) and 10 quarterback hits.

The Broncos' offense struggled against Crosby's Raiders in two meetings this past season. They snuck by Las Vegas 10-7 at home before beating the Raiders 24-17 on the road.

Payton will get a break next year as the Broncos won't face the Ravens during the regular season. He can't avoid Crosby forever, though, as Baltimore appears on the list of Denver's 2027 opponents.