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During the period when speculation circulated concerning Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby’s potential transfer, numerous franchises momentarily vied for his acquisition before withdrawing. These included the Cowboys, the Eagles, the Bears, the Lions, and the Patriots.
However, none managed to finalize the deal. Every suitor was outbid by a particular organization renowned for never excessively spending in the NFL transfer arena. This was the very franchise consistently reluctant to relinquish initial draft selections for a player other than a quarterback. Specifically, the Baltimore Ravens.
The team now finds itself in unprecedented territory. Crosby represents the initial experienced athlete for whom the Ravens have ever swapped a top-tier draft pick; indeed, they considered him valuable enough to repeat the action. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Baltimore is exchanging its initial-round picks from 2026 and 2027 with the Raiders for Crosby, marking the premier significant move of the 2026 offseason period.
Like all transactions involving numerous initial-round selections, this move is likely ill-advised. Prudence typically dictates selecting and nurturing emerging, economically managed prospects. Such an approach embodies a sagacious and prudent long-range perspective.
Nevertheless, at this precise juncture, I find myself unconcerned with that outlook. It is immensely enjoyable to witness an athlete possessing Crosby’s particular capabilities join an organization such as the Ravens, one that profoundly requires a catalyst to surmount the AFC playoff obstacle and contend in a Super Bowl. An genuinely exceptional performer in a crucial role, Crosby’s inclusion in the Ravens’ defensive lineup propels the squad from the midst of a congested AFC postseason scenario to the very forefront.
We shall now assess his integration into both this defensive scheme and Baltimore’s championship aspirations.
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His integration into the defensive unit
His alignment with the Ravens’ strategic timeframe
His Role within the Defensive Scheme
It is unlikely any other football club had a greater need for Crosby than the Ravens. Their total of 30 sacks during the previous season positioned them jointly with the Cardinals and Panthers as having the third-lowest count across the league. Moreover, their 29.9% pass rush victory percentage placed them as the fifth least effective.
Locating a proficient edge rusher has proven challenging for Baltimore. The team has allocated no less than a fourth-round selection to an exterior pass rusher in every one of the preceding five draft classes: Mike Green (2025), Adisa Isaac (2024), Tavius Robinson (2023), David Ojabo (2022) and Odafe Oweh (2021). Among this contingent, Oweh’s 2024 performance, delivering a 10-sack season, stands as their most successful. However, merely a year thereafter, Baltimore transferred him to the Chargers just before the trade cutoff. While seasoned players such as Jadeveon Clowney (with 9.5 sacks in 2023) and Kyle Van Noy (achieving 12.5 in 2024) have competently filled these positions, the Ravens have lacked a truly game-changing edge presence since Terrell Suggs in 2017.
Naturally, these shortcomings originated with the prior coaching personnel. Jesse Minter has succeeded John Harbaugh as the Ravens’ new head coach, bringing his own defensive framework. Minter, an adherent to the Mike Macdonald strategic philosophy, deployed the NFL’s fourth-highest volume of two-high coverages during his tenure as the Chargers’ defensive coordinator last season, according to NFL Next Gen Stats. (Macdonald’s Seahawks trailed closely in fifth place.) Furthermore, the Chargers registered the fourth-highest light box percentage against running plays, at 44.7%. Minter’s defensive approach avoids crowding the line of scrimmage with numerous players to thwart rushing attacks.
The question then arises: how does he achieve this feat? The strategy involves instructing his defensive linemen to cover various gaps. Such versatility characterized Macdonald’s exceptional tactics during Seattle’s Super Bowl pursuit. Upon securing DeMarcus Lawrence via free agency, Macdonald gained a premier run stopper at the defensive end position. Lawrence possessed the ability to penetrate inner gaps and chase down interior rushes; he could also descend unimpeded to interrupt pulling blockers, thereby ruining offensive timing, or simply engage a tackle head-on and dictate movement along the line.
Lawrence ranked second amongst all defensive ends last season concerning run stop EPA. Crosby alone generated greater worth in halting running plays.
Crosby’s immense effectiveness against the run largely stemmed from the sheer quantity of plays he participated in. He remains on the field relentlessly. In contrast to numerous top-tier pass rushers who rest on initial downs to preserve their agility and burst for later plays, Crosby consistently engages without pause. During December of the 2024 campaign, he participated in every single play across six successive matchups for the 2-10 Raiders, totaling 387 consecutive snaps. This constituted the lengthiest such sequence by a defensive lineman recorded in the Next Gen Stats archive, dating back to 2016.
However, his remarkable stamina is not his sole attribute. Crosby possesses a significant reach and exceptional strength, coupled with an extraordinary intuition for stopping the run. He proves an exceptionally dependable tackler, capable of bringing down opponents even when engaged by blockers. An edited compilation of Crosby’s finest run-stopping moments, such as this one from November versus the Browns, would illustrate his prowess:
Just a hellion https://t.co/qtwKnCNFSv pic.twitter.com/NtUz29YVIx
— Benjamin Solak (@BenjaminSolak) March 7, 2026
Crosby frequently cleaves through double-teams with his initial burst, effortlessly navigating past tight ends. Nevertheless, his ability to regain equilibrium while battling through contact is unparalleled, enabling him to pounce on the ball carrier where numerous other defensive ends would be dislodged from an impactful spot. Across the last four campaigns, Crosby has recorded 45 tackles for loss stemming from designed rushing plays. The nearest rival among defensive linemen is Myles Garrett, with 30.
Crosby’s style as a run defender varies somewhat from that of Khalil Mack, Minter’s previous run-stopping defensive end in Los Angeles. Crosby operates with greater quickness and aggression toward the backfield, aiming to generate penetration and tackles for loss rather than merely decelerating ball carriers. Minter will be required to modify the deployment of his new standout defensive end according to the specific play calls. Yet, considering a roster that otherwise comprised Robinson, Green, Isaac, Ojabo, and Van Noy, Crosby’s arrival offers immense reassurance in defending the run. Conceiving of Minter’s defensive scheme functioning effectively without the inclusion of a premier run-stopping end is challenging, and he secured the league’s finest.
A component of the Ravens’ rationale for obtaining Crosby—an individual who will reach 29 at the season’s commencement and is thus past his athletic zenith—is the belief that he will achieve greater efficacy as a pass rusher within their organization compared to his recent tenure in Las Vegas. It is pertinent to observe, however, that Crosby’s pressure generation percentage has declined over each of the last two campaigns. Given his constant presence on the field, his impending 30th birthday elicits apprehension that his physical condition might resemble that of a 31, 32, or even 33-year-old. His utilization, though commendable, appears to be taking a toll with age.
However, the Ravens possess an advantage the Raiders rarely demonstrated: namely, holding a lead during the latter half of games. With Harbaugh at the helm, the Ravens were renowned as a commanding squad for roughly the initial three-and-a-half to three-and-three-quarter periods of their matches. Inquire of any Ravens supporter concerning late-game meltdowns, and prepare for a lengthy discourse. Merely in the previous season, they relinquished multi-score advantages in the final quarter against both the Bills and Patriots, resulting in defeats that ultimately shaped their playoff prospects.
Nevertheless, an exceptional pass rusher can maintain and solidify these late-game advantages. Such a player capitalizes on the predictability of the opposition’s pass plays. Crosby seldom encountered substantial second-half disadvantages while with Las Vegas. Presented here is the identical chart detailing pressure rate, though I’ve modified it to reflect only dropbacks on clear passing situations.
The observed drop in pressure generation appears to be a single-year downturn rather than a two-year regression. Naturally, Crosby sustained an injury throughout the 2025 campaign. During the Raiders’ Week 7 match versus the Chiefs, he damaged his knee, continuing to play despite it until Week 16, at which point he was placed on injured reserve. Crosby’s performance dip in 2025 becomes considerably more comprehensible when considering both the dismal Raiders squad and his injury – although justifications remain merely justifications. A certain degree of peril exists that Crosby may not fully recover his 2023 performance level.
Secondly, the Ravens possess the capacity, and ideally the intention, to persuade Crosby to participate in fewer plays. Consistent with his profound personal dedication, Crosby participated in every single snap during his concluding five games with the Raiders – all while battling a compromised knee in an already forfeited season. As a genuine playoff hopeful such as the Ravens, who anticipate competing in a 17-game regular season followed by an additional three or four playoff matchups, Crosby unequivocally needs to rest. He is unable to sustain such an extraordinarily high number of plays. Baltimore requires him to be invigorated by January, and perhaps, as a member of a different squad, he will heed this counsel.
Should Crosby indeed opt to sit out a few initial downs, he will then enter the game on third down, distinguishing himself as Baltimore’s premier pass rusher by a significant margin. To validate the assets dispatched to Las Vegas for Crosby, Baltimore requires him to achieve over 12 sacks, alongside his formidable run-stopping output, a capability he certainly possesses. Even during a season where his pressure rate was lower, he still amassed 10 sacks across 15 games, in addition to 7.5 sacks in 12 games the preceding year. However, his personal record stands at 14.5, which is nearer to the tally Baltimore anticipates.
His Alignment with the Ravens’ Chronology
To be perfectly frank: Baltimore exchanged a pair of first-round draft selections for a defensive end approaching 29 years of age, who is also recovering from knee surgery. This represents a considerable gamble.
The track record of transactions involving numerous first-round selections is hardly inspiring. The recent acquisition of cornerback Sauce Gardner by the Colts serves as a stark warning; Gardner sustained an injury merely two games following the agreement. The Seahawks’ deal for Jamal Adams remains notorious. While certain transactions have proven successful – such as Micah Parsons joining the Packers, Khalil Mack moving to the Bears, and Jalen Ramsey heading to the Rams – all three of these athletes were nearing the completion of their initial contract and poised for their second. Crosby, however, has significantly progressed beyond his second agreement and is now entering his third. It is during this period that athletes commonly experience a decline in performance.
Baltimore’s defensive unit is rife with unpredictability concerning player age and physical condition. Indeed, Kyle Hamilton stands as the youthful standout safety, while Nate Wiggins persists in his rise to become a premier cornerback. However, linebacker Roquan Smith, who is nearing his 29th birthday, has exhibited signs of aging in successive seasons, commencing each year somewhat less swiftly than the Smith we typically observe. Cornerback Marlon Humphrey, the team’s second-string player, will reach 30 years of age this summer, and he ranked among the least effective cornerbacks when targeted on deep passes during the prior season. His concession rate for completions stood at 58.3% (against a league average of 32.3%), alongside a passer rating of 107.6 (compared to the league average of 90.2). Evidence of decline has started to manifest in his mobility.
Arguably, the most significant puzzle is Nnamdi Madubuike, the promising defensive tackle projected to shine alongside Hamilton as a defensive luminary. Madubuike commenced his professional career as a more mature prospect, and by November of the forthcoming season, he will have reached 29 years old. In recent years, he had solidified his reputation as one of the league’s premier defensive tackles… until a neck ailment sidelined him for all but two contests in 2025. Harbaugh consistently exercised caution when discussing Madubuike’s injury, an issue that led to his absence from the team and appeared to raise the possibility of retirement.
Baltimore’s defensive corps approached the off-season facing a critical juncture. With Madubuike’s return and an enhanced defensive strategy, the elements are present to swiftly re-establish a top-tier unit. Rookie safety Malaki Starks displayed exceptional promise. Travis Jones has developed into a significant second-string defensive tackle. Teddye Buchanan seemed to offer a remedy at linebacker, partnering with Smith, prior to sustaining a torn ACL. Although Smith and Humphrey may be nearing the conclusion of their playing days, a revitalized off-season, coupled with a new head coach, holds the potential to reverse their perceived decline.
One could have justifiably argued, and perhaps it would have been wiser, to completely restart. This would entail releasing existing contracts, acquiring younger talent in free agency, and reconstructing the team aligned with Minter’s vision. However, it is equally justifiable to acquire an athlete such as Crosby, lean on the long-standing successful veterans, and aim to reclaim an elite status – immediately. The acquisition of Crosby via trade carries inherent risks; nonetheless, for the Ravens’ defense to operate effectively – considering both its current composition and future outlook – this action is deemed essential.
It is beneficial to consider the broader scope of Lamar Jackson’s prime performance period and the forthcoming draft classes for which Baltimore has relinquished its initial-round choices. Jackson, now 29 years old, and as a signal-caller highly dependent on his agility, is improbable to secure MVP awards well into his thirties. Evidently, the Ravens have perceived a pressing need to achieve victory immediately with Jackson – to such an extent that Harbaugh was dismissed following numerous prosperous, albeit unfinished, seasons in Baltimore. The transaction involving Crosby underscores this exigency, illustrating Baltimore’s endeavor to rapidly assemble a championship contender around an MVP-worthy quarterback while his physical capabilities remain exceptional.
Indeed,
microwaving is the road to disaster. Yes, shortcutting the long road of patient, draft-first team building is generally bad. But the Ravens have been sitting around and drafting, drafting, drafting around Jackson for years now. It hasn’t born fruit. It’s time to get in and get going while the getting’s still good.
1:42
Jesse Minter’s blueprint for crafting a squad centered on Lamar
Jesse Minter appears on “The Pat McAfee Show” to discuss developing the team with Lamar Jackson and his strategic outlook for the 2026 NFL draft as head coach.
And 2026 proved to be the opportune moment. The Ravens conveyed their 14th draft selection to the Raiders, yet this year’s draft pool is notably weak — unequivocally the poorest in my decade of observing the occasion. A player chosen at the 14th position overall would typically have been a mid-20s selection in previous years. Naturally, numerous draftees will ultimately succeed, rendering this viewpoint absurd retrospectively. However, based on the readily available data at present, first-round selections possess diminished worth compared to their advertised cost this season.
Consequently, the Ravens utilized the 14th pick this year and an inaugural-round selection next year. The 2027 first-round pick constituted the expense for acquiring Crosby from either the Cowboys or the Bears, both of whom were reportedly tendering a single first-round choice but declined to relinquish a second. This represents a considerable expenditure — an amount I probably would have avoided if I held a general manager position. Securing Crosby for the squad demanded significant effort, but the specifics of the trade will be forgotten if he tackles Josh Allen in the final quarter of a game the Ravens ultimately win, a victory that at last propels them toward the championship that has escaped Jackson for such an extended period.
This action smacks of urgency. Nevertheless, urgent measures are justifiable during critical periods, and this juncture certainly qualifies. An excessive number of organizations linger in a state of ‘satisfactory, not exceptional’ without committing to a genuine effort, thus failing to widen their championship prospect for an additional season. The Ravens have plunged into the endeavor wholeheartedly. Their fate now rests on success or failure.