
The blockbuster trade that would have sent Maxx Crosby from the Las Vegas Raiders to the Baltimore Ravens collapsed Tuesday in a stunning turn.
Las Vegas announced that Baltimore backed out of the agreement after medical concerns surfaced during Crosby’s physical. The deal, which included two first-round picks heading to the Raiders, was never finalized before the start of the new league year. The collapse of the deal suddenly puts Crosby back on the trade market.
Crosby has produced at an elite level despite the Raiders’ struggles, recording 69.5 sacks and 133 tackles for loss since entering the league in 2019. If Las Vegas decides to revisit trade talks, several contenders make obvious sense.
Three stand out immediately.
The Dallas Cowboys spent much of the offseason exploring a deal for Crosby, and the collapse of the Ravens trade reopens that opportunity.
Dallas previously offered a package built around premium draft picks and a player for the five-time Pro Bowler. The interest was logical. Losing Micah Parsons last year left a massive void. Crosby restores that identity for a defense that ranked near the bottom of every important defensive category.
There are obstacles. Dallas reshaped part of its roster while assuming Crosby was headed to Baltimore, including acquiring Rashan Gary. That move complicates the financial structure of another major trade. Even so, the Cowboys remain one of the few teams positioned to make a serious push. Adding Crosby would instantly reestablish the pass rush that they desperately need.
The San Francisco 49ers enter the season with a glaring problem. Their pass rush disappeared last year.
San Francisco finished the season with only 20 sacks, the lowest total in the league. Injuries drove much of that decline. Both Nick Bosa and Mykel Williams are returning from ACL injuries, leaving uncertainty about how quickly the defensive front regains its form.
Adding Crosby changes everything.
His relentless motor and consistent production would anchor the pass rush early in the season while the rest of the unit returns to full strength. When Bosa reaches peak form again, the pairing would give San Francisco the most dangerous edge combination in football.
The Los Angeles Rams face a different challenge as they try to survive the arms race inside the NFC West.
The Seattle Seahawks pushed all the way to the Super Bowl last season after eliminating both the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers in the playoffs. San Francisco still carries a veteran roster built to compete every season, and Los Angeles is trying to squeeze another championship run out of the remaining prime years of Matthew Stafford.
Aggressive moves have always been part of the Rams’ approach. This front office has built a reputation for trading premium assets for established stars, and it did so again this offseason by acquiring Trent McDuffie to strengthen the secondary.
A move for Crosby would follow that same blueprint.
Los Angeles already has a capable defensive front, but Crosby would give the unit a relentless edge presence who consistently wins off the snap and chases plays across the field. Adding Crosby would fit the Rams’ pattern. When this franchise believes a championship window is open, it rarely hesitates to make the biggest move available.
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