The Ravens made national headlines Friday night, landing Raiders star defensive end Maxx Crosby in a blockbuster trade. Baltimore gave up a pair of first-round picks to land the two-time All-Pro defensive game-wrecker.  

Here’s a sampling of what national analysts had to say on social media in the immediate aftermath of the significant move.  

Field Yates, ESPN 

The Ravens had just 30 sacks in 2025. That was their fewest as a team in 15 years. Their team leader had just 4.5 sacks. A desperate pass rush gets fixed in a hurry with Maxx Crosby. 

Emmanuel Acho

The Ravens gotta have the best one of the best on-paper defenses in the history of on-paper defenses.

• Maxx Crosby
• Roquan Smith
• Nate Wiggins
• Kyle Hamilton
• Marlon Humphrey
• Malaki Starks

Crosby is a great chess piece for Minter. 

Benjamin Solak, ESPN 

Well done by the Raiders man, that’s excellent return. And Crosby is a huge boon for a Ravens team that has needed legit pressure presence off the edge for ages now. And has the run defense Minter’s EDGEs needs. Good fit. 

Warren Sharp, Sharp Football Analysis 

Maxx Crosby among all defensive linemen since 2019, when he entered the NFL:  

• #1 in tackles for loss (133) 
• #1 in solo tackles (277)
• #2 in QB pressures (431)
• #2 in QB hits (119)
• #3 in total tackles (437)
• #4 in batted passes (20)
• #5 in sacks (69.5)  

Traded to the Baltimore Ravens. 

Adam Schefter, ESPN 

AFC North adds to its pass rusher repertoire: Since 2019, Maxx Crosby has 360 pressures in his career, 29 more than the next closest player, Myles Garrett. Now both are in the same division. 

Tom Pelissero, NFL Network

While the Raiders insisted publicly Maxx Crosby would be on the team in 2026, the reality is it was never going to happen. A trade made sense for both sides, as Las Vegas gets ammo for their rebuild and Crosby gets a fresh start at age 28.

Albert Breer, Sports Illustrated

Simple, and clean, no givebacks or pick swaps. A win for the Raiders to get that much, for sure. And the Ravens fill a massive need.

Bill Barnwell, ESPN

No doubting that the Ravens needed serious help on the edge given trading away Oweh and Kyle Van Noy/Dre’Mont Jones hitting free agency. Crosby was the best player available at their biggest position of need. Love that fit. But I wonder whether spending enough to win the [Trey] Hendrickson bidding + holding onto the first-rounders would have been a better way to attack those concerns.

Ravens are very top-heavy now between Lamar (likely on a new deal), Crosby, Stanley, Madubuike, and top-of-position deals for Hamilton and Roquan Smith. You can win with that formula, but you need your stars to be healthy and really productive.

Sam Monson

I get why the Ravens were desperate for pass rush after last season, but I wouldn’t give up 2x 1sts for Maxx Crosby. He’s dropped off after those injuries, is almost 29. You may never be getting peak Maxx Crosby.

Lindsay Rhodes, SumerSports

I think the Maxx Crosby deal is a good one for both sides. And I think tonight probably sucks for Raiders fans, in spite of that.

Pat McAfee, ESPN

HOLY [CRAP]! What a play by The Ravens.

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John Breech, CBS Sports

There are only three NFL players who have recorded at least 30 sacks, 70 QB hits and 45 tackles for a loss over the past three seasons combined:

• Myles Garrett
• T.J. Watt
• Maxx Crosby

Jordan Schultz

The Raiders were very consistent in their desire to land two first-rounders, according to sources. They never wavered. The Ravens were the only team willing to go there for Maxx Crosby. 

Dianna Russini, The Athletic  

Both the Baltimore Ravens and the Dallas Cowboys had been working on this for days. They kept communication with the Raiders. The Jacksonville Jaguars were another team trying to put together a big trade package that would get it done. Ravens win. 

Have a news tip? Contact Bennett Conlin at bconlin@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/BennettConlin.