The Ravens shocked the NFL community twice this week. Once, when they silently traded Maxx Crosby from the Raiders, and then again when they backed out of that trade. 

Since then, many have speculated that the Raiders star failed the physical test, and hence the Ravens took that step. But now another reason has taken the air. NFL Insider Dianna Russini posted on X: 

“It’s been made clear by multiple people around the NFL at all levels that Baltimore had all the information and understood where Maxx Crosby’s knee was in terms of his recovery timeline. Many in the league believe GM Eric DeCosta and the Ravens ultimately just got cold feet.” 

During the 2025 NFL season, Crosby injured his left knee (meniscus) but continued playing through it for much of the year. The pain and damage eventually worsened, and the Raiders shut him down late in the season. In January 2026, he underwent surgery to repair the torn meniscus. 

It has been reported that Ravens’ doctors flagged concerns about his knee recovery, and he reportedly failed the physical, which caused the trade to be canceled.

What Russini and multiple other people around the NFL believe is that the Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta got nervous about first-round draft picks (2026 and 2027) he was trading in return for Crosby. 

In fact, they got another DE without losing any draft picks. The Ravens have signed the former Cincinnati Bengals pass rusher, Trey Hendrickson, on a 4-year, $112 million contract. 

Though The Ravens Might Have to Pay Big Time For Ditching Maxx Crosby 

The rest of the NFL Franchises are not very happy with how the Ravens have dealt with Maxx Crosby. One executive told NFL Network reporter Tom Pelissero that the situation was “very much bulls**** on Baltimore’s part.”

However, the Ravens haven't released any official statement. Meanwhile, Crosby's agent declared his faith in the defensive end shortly after the news of the cancelled trade surfaced.

"Maxx continues to be on track in his recovery, and if anything is ahead of schedule according to his surgeon Dr. Neal El Attrache. Maxx remains on track to return during the offseason program & will undoubtedly return as the dominant game wrecker he has been these past 7 seasons," CJ LaBoy wrote on X.

Now the question is, will the NFL star remain with the Raiders, or will another team bid for the DE?

Follow the Cleveland Browns Community for more updates.

Written by

Reyansh Dubey

Edited by

Sagnik Bagchi