The Baltimore Ravens have been pegged as a landing spot for Maxx Crosby, as rumors of his split with the Las Vegas Raiders continue to swirl.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby is one of the best at his position, but a knee injury and being sidelined placed him deeper in trade rumors. One place he could end up is with the Baltimore Ravens, who have been named a "would-be" contender for his services.
Crosby has been loyal to the Raiders, but their continued struggles have only placed even more strain on the relationship with him. Nobody blames the defensive end for wanting to be part of a winner, as he has been one of the best pass rushers in the league on a team that has not figured things out.
There is no guarantee that the Raiders would move on from Crosby, unless a team offered more than just a first-round pick. A new contract would likely also follow.
With the Ravens poised to make a big splash in free agency and following general manager Eric DeCosta's comments on going after "big ticket" items, landing Crosby is the kind of move the team should take seriously.
ESPN's Dan Graziano and Jeremy Fowler broke down rumblings on free agents and trade candidates, with Crosby being the big name in terms of a potential blockbuster trade.
"What has been made clear to me: Crosby wants to be a part of a winner. That's the priority. Whether and how that's conveyed is still unclear. He has been fiercely loyal to Las Vegas. That loyalty will be tested more than ever in the coming weeks. The reality is the Raiders are still far away from significant winning, and the trade interest in Crosby is incredibly robust.
"In fact, I believe more than a dozen teams, possibly up to 20, will at least inquire with levels of serious intent. And there are some natural would-be contenders, including the Bills, Lions, 49ers, Cowboys and Ravens. One team that typically doesn't jump in these high-stakes waters but would be perfect to try: the Buccaneers. This is the type of move that would put Tampa Bay over the top," Fowler wrote.
Fowler offered some self-awareness on his comments, stating that up to 20 teams would be interested in Crosby if there is a remote chance of him being traded. To be fair, all 32 would likely take a shot if they could.
Fowler did mention several of those teams, including the Ravens.
The Ravens need a strong pass rush, and it should be an emphasis when free agency comes rolling around. DeCosta needs to target that unit aggressively, and Crosby would be the game-wrecker the team needs.
Even missing two games, Crosby still managed to hit 10 sacks. At 69.5 sacks in seven seasons, he is averaging nearly 10 per season.
Crosby also secured 12.5 in 2022 and 14.5 in 2023. Simply put, he is the kind of tough, no-nonsense pass rusher the Ravens need.
There is no telling what the plan is for Kyle Van Noy, and the jury is still out on whether Nnamdi Madubuike will return. He offered some cryptic social media posts, but there has been no update on how his neck injury is faring.
Even if Madubuike does return, a true pass rusher is needed. Crosby possesses the skills that would be the perfect person to build around for Jesse Minter and this potentially defense-first new Ravens team.