The Ravens technically followed the rules when they backed out of their trade with the Raiders for star defensive end Maxx Crosby late Tuesday.
This agreement was made last Friday, just six days prior to the beginning of the new league year. This meant that the Ravens had the option to reconsider or change their strategy until 1 p.m. Pacific time on Wednesday.
And that’s exactly what transpired. Reports confirm that the Ravens dismissed concerns regarding Crosby’s physical exam, which was a prerequisite for officially finalizing the trade.
Consequently, the deal fell through. The two first-round picks that the Raiders had received in return for Crosby were promptly sent back to Baltimore. Crosby, who had started to envision his future with the Ravens, quickly found himself on a flight back to Las Vegas, still a Raider.
Remarkable, right?
However, it’s important to note that no rules were breached, at least not in the conventional sense.
In the end, the Ravens acted within their rights.
As a well-known axiom states, a deal isn’t really a deal until it’s all signed and sealed. That fundamental principle holds true in negotiations. And let’s just say the Ravens might not have the same reputation in the league today as they did just two days ago.
While strictly speaking, no official infractions occurred, many in the NFL feel the Ravens failed to uphold the spirit of the agreement. This feeling intensified the following morning when the team secured a four-year contract worth $112 million with edge rusher Trey Hendrickson.
There’s a prevailing thought among insiders that the Ravens, upon realizing Hendrickson was available at a surprisingly good deal, concealed their reservations regarding Crosby’s health to back out of the trade.
Now, they not only have a quality player in Hendrickson but also two first-round picks, including the 14th overall selection in next month’s draft.
This chain of events has bred significant resentment towards the Ravens among other teams, creating an unusual sense of frustration in the aftermath of their withdrawn agreement.
“It’s really unfortunate,” an NFL source said on Tuesday night.
“It’s really bad business in Baltimore,” remarked another.
This isn’t the Ravens’ first instance of backing out of an agreement, raising questions about their approach in this situation.
Back in 2020, the Rams had a three-year, $30 million deal lined up with defensive tackle Michael Brockers, but retracted it over health concerns. In 2018, wide receiver Ryan Grant was signed to a multi-year deal, which he later withdrew due to ankle issues. Some still wonder if the Ravens changed course when they discovered Michael Crabtree was available.
“There’s a history there,” noted an NFL executive. “That’s why the mood around the league isn’t very positive right now.”
The frustration is understandable. Despite the cutthroat nature of the NFL, a certain code of integrity exists among teams and executives.
Especially now, plans are developed and carried out based on verbal commitments. With a limited number of impactful players available during free agency, teams work under the assumption that their agreements will be honored without doubts.
This trust is vital when significant money, draft picks, and budgets are on the line. In the intricate financial landscape of the NFL, personnel decisions are hardly made in isolation; they’re all interlinked in some way.
The Ravens, having looked to acquire Crosby last week, had to shift gears when the Raiders declined to accept his trade offer in favor of Baltimore’s bid. There were numerous teams involved, and such decisions were made based on Crosby not joining their ranks.
The Cowboys pivoted to trading for Packers defensive end Rashan Gary shortly after missing out on Crosby. The Bears acquired linebacker Devin Bush and safety Kobe Bryant, while the Patriots secured edge rusher Doremon Jones and wide receiver Romeo Dubs.
Sure, teams could still have made similar moves even with Crosby. But honestly, some of those trades likely resulted from not securing him.
Once the Raiders and Ravens reached a verbal agreement regarding the Crosby trade, both sides moved on. But the Ravens managed to withdraw and quickly sign Hendrickson, which many sources anticipated Tuesday night.
“On the surface, it seems they found an easy excuse to back out of the trade to move for Hendrickson,” said a team executive. “And that’s just bad practice.”
No, they weren’t violating any official rules. But in the eyes of some peers and in public opinion, the Ravens may have crossed a line on Tuesday.
