The Las Vegas Raiders acquire two first-round picks, launching a youth movement by sending star edge rusher Maxx Crosby to the Baltimore Ravens.
The Las Vegas Raiders have agreed to a trade with the Baltimore Ravens on Friday night, sending star edge rusher Maxx Crosby to Baltimore in exchange for two first-round picks, as first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The two picks heading to Las Vegas in the deal are in 2026 and 2027, further adding fuel to the Raiders’ rebuild. After winning just three games last season and finishing in a position to select first in this year’s draft, the front office has sent a clear message by trading away Crosby: they're all-in on the youth movement.
A five-time Pro Bowler and four-time All-Pro, Crosby heads to a Ravens team that finished second in the AFC North with an 8-9 record.
Though sending away its franchise player didn't come easy, Las Vegas walks away with two first-rounders as it dives headfirst into a rebuild. After being offered a first-round pick and a second-round pick from the Dallas Cowboys, the Raiders decided to partner with a Ravens team that was willing to add that desired extra first-rounder.
Crosby’s future with the Raiders was shaky, as rumors about an exit had been swirling for months. Tension only heightened when he was placed on the injured reserve with two games remaining in the year. The Raiders put him on the IR despite Crosby’s wishes to stay out there to finish the season, leading him to walk out of the building after being informed of the decision.
Despite missing the final games of the 2025 season, Crosby still recorded 73 tackles, including a career-high 28 tackles for loss. He earned his fifth consecutive Pro Bowl selection for his disruptive season on an otherwise weak Raiders defense.
With the NFL Draft a month and a half away, Las Vegas now owns two first-round picks – No. 1 and No. 14. The choice at No. 1 is clear, especially after the news of quarterback Geno Smith being released earlier today, Indiana University quarterback Fernando Mendoza. Now owning No. 14 after the trade, the Raiders have another high pick to inject their team with promising talent.
How they choose to operate at No. 14 will be something to watch, as the roster has many holes that require addressing. They could choose to bolster the offense by drafting an offensive lineman or a receiver, ot they could choose to strengthen their poor defense that has been made significantly worse with Crosby’s departure.
No matter which approach they go with, they are heading in the right direction. Stocking up on young talent under a new head coach has injected some life into the Raiders after a woeful 2025 season.