There is obviously only one answer to this for the Las Vegas Raiders: Forge ahead. Go back to teams that were interested.
Heck. Maybe to even some that weren’t.
Keep trying to trade Maxx Crosby.
It has always been the most intelligent move. Always been the one avenue this saga should travel.
Sure. The Baltimore Ravens on Tuesday backed out of a deal that would have sent two first-round picks to the Raiders for Crosby.
But it’s not as if an impressive free-agent haul by the Raiders — and they definitely had one Monday — covered all the countless holes that remain along the roster.
Assets are still needed. Ways to improve this team.
And that starts with moving on from Crosby.
Again.
He reportedly failed a physical in Baltimore, and maybe that’s not the biggest of surprises.
Is there an NFL player completely healthy at any time?
Long-term view
But given his history — Crosby has accounted for eight surgeries in seven seasons — something being amiss with his health shouldn’t shock anyone.
Maybe this was a long-term view for the Ravens. That if they didn’t like what was seen now, how would things look in two or three seasons?
Maybe they viewed the player as enough damaged goods that the future would only bring more health problems.
It’s still an awful look for the team. I’m guessing there might be some general managers out there right now that will pause the next time Baltimore comes calling to talk shop.
This isn’t on the Raiders one bit. It’s not as if Baltimore wasn’t aware there was a history with Crosby and injuries. It’s not as if they didn’t know he was recovering from offseason knee surgery.
What did the Ravens see that scared them off this much?
But what one team believes is an issue might not be what another does. There will still be a market for Crosby. He’s that elite, one of the best edge rushers the NFL knows.
What that market might now return is a different story. Suddenly, the leverage has shifted to those who could still own interest.
If the Baltimore offer of two first-rounders was the best on the table, and you have to believe it was, it’s unknown what sort of deal the Raiders could strike and with whom.
But it has to be pursued. They have to at least try.
And this is where things get tough on the Raiders. It’s not as if they don’t have the money to take back Crosby, although they spent a boatload of it Monday.
Problem is, others across the league have also agreed to free-agent deals. There isn’t as much capital available as there was 48 hours ago.
One of the reasons given for the rift between player and team was that Crosby disagreed with being shut down for the last two games of the 2025 season. He was obviously hurt and had meniscus surgery to prove it.
But then the divide grew, no matter how nice each side played with the other publicly.
Can you really bring him back when there has been some level of friction for months?
Can you trade him one day and welcome a return the next?
Mend fences?
Nothing changed about Crosby from the agreement with Baltimore to it nixing the deal.
He is still one of the all-time great Raiders whose foundation has done wonderful things for people across Southern Nevada and beyond. He still means more than anything to a fan base incredibly faithful to him.
I don’t believe that part will ever change.
I don’t believe he will ever stop trying to help those in need here.
But trading him is still the best option for all involved. It might not be easy. This whole ordeal has really put the Raiders in a bad spot through no fault of their own.
Maybe they ultimately feel it best to mend fences — if that’s at all possible — and return Crosby to the silver and black.
Before that, however, they need to exhaust all attempts to find a new partner. It’s difficult to walk things back now.
So you forge ahead.
And hope someone out there is willing to make a deal.
One that makes some semblance of sense.
Ed Graney, a Sigma Delta Chi Award winner for sports column writing, can be reached at egraney@reviewjournal.com. Follow @edgraney on X.
