On Tuesday night, the Baltimore Ravens surprised many in the NFL when it was revealed that Maxx Crosby did not pass a post-trade physical, leading to the cancellation of his contract with the Raiders. Consequently, the two first-round draft picks given to Las Vegas returned to Baltimore, and Crosby went back to his team, eliciting accusations from general managers across the league that the Ravens had played dirty.
Things got even more interesting the following morning as the Ravens quickly signed Trey Hendrickson, the top edge rusher left on the market. This led many to speculate that the reason for rejecting Crosby was less about his medical history and more about the team’s apparent indifference.
The Ravens’ handling of the trade raises numerous questions. There’s a lot of speculation surrounding their actions and whether the NFL should step in to address gaps in dealing with failed physicals. While Baltimore is trying to present this as a routine occurrence, it certainly feels anything but ordinary.
What is Max Crosby’s injury?
In October 2025, Crosby experienced a torn meniscus, causing him to miss several games while the Raiders evaluated the possibility of natural healing. This is often the first approach for such injuries.
By early January, it became evident that Crosby’s knee needed surgical repair, and he successfully underwent meniscal repair surgery that month. This procedure involved arthroscopic techniques to fix the torn meniscus, aimed at restoring full knee function.
Currently, Crosby is in rehabilitation, and his agent, CJ Laboy, indicated that Max is ahead of recovery expectations and could be back by Week 1 of the 2026 season.
What did the rest of the league know?
According to NFL insiders, teams were aware of the specifics of Crosby’s injury before it entered the trade market, and there was no attempt by the Raiders to conceal its seriousness. While meniscal tears are significant, most players recover completely without lasting issues, unlike other injuries that could be more serious.
The surgery was conducted by Dr. Neil El-Atrash, a highly esteemed orthopedic surgeon renowned in the field. He also serves as the team physician for the Los Angeles Rams and Dodgers, thus lending credence to his expertise in sports medicine.
If Dr. El-Atrash says the procedure went well and Crosby is ahead of schedule, that’s pretty much reliable information.
What did the Ravens see? Why is this unusual?
That’s the critical question.
The crux of the trade fallout hinges on vague “concerns” regarding Crosby’s knee. Details about him failing the Ravens’ physical aren’t public, and both teams have refrained from discussing the medical reasoning.
Such trade cancellations happen in the NFL; usually, due to undisclosed medical issues not identified by the team executing the trade. It is quite rare for a team to rescind a deal based on known facts, especially with a clear recovery plan set by the surgeon.
The Ravens assert that their medical staff is better equipped for evaluating Crosby than a top orthopedic surgeon. As a result, Crosby’s status is uncertain, leaving Las Vegas without recourse for compensation after the deal fell through.
The timing raises serious doubts about the Ravens’ intentions
Initially, there was an understanding linked to value regarding Crosby’s salary cap hit. Sure, he was among the highest earners for pass rushers, but the expanding salary cap has put his contract into perspective.
Crosby’s $35.79 million cap hit, for instance, was actually less than that of Jaelan Phillips, who signed with the Panthers. Meanwhile, it was reported that Trey Hendrickson’s camp was eyeing a substantial contract, equivalent to a top player’s salary.
Hendrickson’s negotiations became of interest, and though an agreement wasn’t reached initially, it soon became evident that discussions were ongoing, particularly as the Ravens chose to void their deal for Crosby.
Less than 12 hours after the move, Baltimore secured Hendrickson with a four-year deal worth $112 million, translating to an annual average of $28 million—almost $8 million less than Crosby’s proposed contract.
The situation leaves us with a peculiar scenario of a physical failure without much clarity, and it seems the Ravens may have reconsidered their hefty offer for Crosby after recognizing they could sign Hendrickson for less budget.
What does this indicate for the Ravens and Raiders?
The Ravens will likely proceed as if nothing amiss occurred. They regained their draft picks, swiftly moved on to Hendrickson, and have more flexibility in their salary cap for future adjustments.
Conversely, this situation severely impacted the Las Vegas Raiders, significantly altering their offseason plans. While cap space remains, the team’s approach to building a roster has now shifted. Did they make deals they might have otherwise avoided if Crosby hadn’t returned? How will the effects of a $35 million salary cap hit influence their strategy moving forward, especially regarding other free agents?
These are pressing questions for the Raiders’ management. The motivations behind the Ravens’ actions remain unclear, yet it’s evident they inflicted serious damage on the Raiders by retracting from the deal, and their rationale appears weak. The NFL and NFLPA may need to request further details from Baltimore to ascertain whether any new information came to light regarding Crosby’s failed physical or if they simply had a change of heart.
If it turns out to be the latter, then major penalties should be in store for the Ravens for manipulating medical standards for their gain, negatively impacting both a player and another team.
