New Maxx Crosby Rumors Explain Why Raiders-Ravens Trade 'Stunned' NFL Insiders, Market Revealed

While Maxx Crosby's trade from the Las Vegas Raiders didn't come as a total shock, some in the NFL were "stunned" by the final deal, according to The MMQB's Albert Breer.

The league insider cited how the Baltimore Ravens, who are sending two first-round picks to Las Vegas, aren't usually this aggressive in a trade. He wrote that the move "was so un-Raven-like."

Breer reported some suitors removed themselves from the Crosby sweepstakes when it became clear what they'd need to do in order to top the offers from Baltimore and the Dallas Cowboys.

The Buffalo Bills were one such team.

The Bills were willing to deal their 2026 first-rounder, but that pick (No. 26) is much later than when the Ravens were originally going to be on the clock (No. 14). It was a similar story with the Cowboys, who sit at No. 12.

"That meant Buffalo would essentially have to add a second-round pick to whatever Dallas or Baltimore offered," Breer wrote.

According to Breer, the Philadelphia Eagles had a level of interest in Crosby but were "never a factor." The two-time reigning NFC East champions are focusing their efforts on retaining Jaelan Phillips instead.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Sunday that "there is optimism" Phillips returns to Philly:

In general, Breer wrote there was a "robust market" for Crosby, and he included the Chicago Bears as a team that made an unsuccessful attempt along with Buffalo and Dallas:

"The Ravens' willingness to go to two first-round picks and do it without any back-end complications wound up winning the day," he said. "Dallas would only go to first- and second-round picks and, like Baltimore, didn't want to add a player to the package."

Baltimore was already bold in firing longtime coach John Harbaugh and hiring Jesse Minter, who has never been an NFL head coach before, after missing the playoffs in 2025. Acquiring Crosby at the cost of two first-rounders is an even bigger display of the organization's ambitions.

Anything short of a Super Bowl appearance within the next few years will likely be deemed a disappointment.