Baltimore Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta, via Lexi Thompson-Imagn Images
One of the more shocking transactional moments in recent NFL history unfolded on Tuesday night as the Baltimore Ravens backed out of the trade that they had agreed upon with the Las Vegas Raiders to acquire Pro Bowl pass rusher Maxx Crosby. As a result, Crosby remains a member of the Raiders and is back on the trade market.
According to numerous NFL insiders, the Baltimore Ravens are widely perceived as being at fault for the Maxx Crosby trade falling through, with reports indicating that a combination of “cold feet” plus Trey Hendrickson’s free agent market led to them backing out of the deal — an extremely taboo move in the NFL.
Reporters also say that NFL execs aren’t buying the Ravens’ excuse about Crosby’s physical, either. Had the trade gone through, the Ravens would’ve given the Raiders two first-round picks (2026 and 2027) in exchange for Crosby.
NFL reporters are pointing the finger at the Baltimore Ravens for the Maxx Crosby trade falling through
As of now, the working theory among NFL fans, reporters, and executives is that Hendrickson expected a $30M/year market, but it never materialized. As a result of the softer-than-expected market for Hendrickson, the Ravens got cold feet on the Crosby deal, backed out of it, ad then pursued Hendrickson, who they’ll pay $28M/year.
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.
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) March 11, 2026
the Ravens had buyer’s remorse over trading 2 first-round picks (something they’ve never done before) for Maxx Crosby plus his $65M in cap hits the next 2 years…
they saw Trey Hendrickson’s asking price fall after he couldn’t agree to a deal in the first 2 days of legal…
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) March 11, 2026
“If someone in your fantasy football league did what the Ravens just did, they’d be kicked out of the league,” one viral tweet read.
“You can’t convince me Maxx Crosby actually failed a physical the Ravens realized they can keep the picks and get Trey Hendrickson and that’s 100% the better move to make,” read a second popular post on Twitter.
“There is no such thing as a ‘failed physical’. It’s a decision that the team makes on the amount of risk they’re willing to assume,” added NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Just got off the phone with two GMs. Neither one buying the Ravens failed physical narrative – not by a long shot. Good luck finding agents and teams to trust you in negotiations now. It’s not sitting well with the Raiders either. Coulda got further medicals on Crosby way sooner
— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) March 11, 2026
From @GMFB: Explaining the Maxx Crosby medical risk, what the #Ravens believed, and why the #Colts were in pole position for Trey Hendrickson… until Baltimore jumped in. pic.twitter.com/KSG4qc1ciR
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 11, 2026
While the Ravens didn’t trade for Crosby, they did land a Pro Bowl pass rusher as they signed former Bengal Trey Hendrickson to a 4-year, $112 million deal..