Maxx Crosby trade grades: Ravens address struggling pass rush with superstar, Raiders pad rebuild assets

The Baltimore Ravens have acquired star pass-rusher Maxx  Crosby from the Las Vegas Raiders, per Ian Rapoport.

Baltimore sent Las Vegas two first-round picks for defensive end, including No. 14 in the 2026 NFL Draft. For the first time in history, the Ravens organization traded a first-round pick for a player, and they picked a good time to do it.

Crosby and the Raiders had been butting heads throughout the 2025 season, and Las Vegas had publicly been saying that they wanted to keep him in town. The Athletic's Dianna Russini reported that the relationship had deteriorated back in December when Las Vegas opted to bench Crosby for the final two games of the regular season.

Baltimore gets much-needed pass rush to spark its defense, while Las Vegas adds to its rebuilding draft capital for the next two years.

Here’s how The Sporting News grades the deal.

MORE: Maxx Crosby trade details

Maxx Crosby trade details

Ravens get: 

• DE Maxx Crosby

Raiders get: 

• 2026 first-round pick (No. 14)
• 2027 first-round pick

MORE: Why did the Raiders trade Maxx Crosby to the Ravens?

Maxx Crosby trade grades

Ravens grade: A

Baltimore needed to bolster its pass rush in a bad way. As a team, the Ravens only had 30 sacks for the entire 2025 season. That was their lowest mark over the last 15 seasons, per ESPN's Jamison Hensley. Baltimore was led by defensive tackle Travis Jones, who had five sacks, and he was followed by LB Tavius Robinson (4.5) and LB Mike Green (3.5) atop the team. 

Crosby had 10 sacks for the Raiders in only 15 games last season. Baltimore clearly knows the importance of Crosby and upgrading their pass rush. The Ravens traded two first-round picks, marking the first time in franchise history that they have traded a first-round pick for a player, per Jeff Zrebiec. 

Two first-round picks are a steep price to pay, especially as Baltimore deals with an aging starting running back in Derrick Henry, and still needs wide receiver help. Still, the 28-year-old pass rusher is in his prime and under contract through the 2029 season, per Spotrac.  

Raiders grade: A+

Las Vegas has been teetering on a rebuild for the past few seasons, and it looks like they are finally committing to it. The Raiders have the No. 1 overall pick in the draft after finishing with the worst record in 2025. Las Vegas also adds No. 14 this year and another first-round pick in the 2027 draft, giving them two picks that year.

Las Vegas is expected to draft Indiana QB Francisco Mendoza with the first overall pick, giving them their quarterback of the future. While No. 14 likely won’t be the next Crosby, the pick allows them to add a talented pass rusher or address another team need, such as head coach Klint Kubiak.

The Raiders long maintained that they wanted two first-round picks for Crosby, and Baltimore emerged as the franchise willing to pay the price. Even if the 2027 first-round pick comes later in the draft, this is still a strong move for Las Vegas, which had been at odds with Crosby through the 2025 season. Both sides get a fresh start: the Raiders bolster their rebuilding efforts and draft capital while clearing cap space.