Looking at the Fallout From the Maxx Crosby Trade Reportedly Falling Through
The blockbuster trade that sent shock waves throughout the NFL has had another seismic effect on the landscape due to a stunning turn of events.
The Las Vegas Raiders announced Tuesday night that the trade that reportedly sent defensive end Maxx Crosby to the Ravens in exchange for two first-round picks is off.
According to multiple reports, Crosby, who underwent surgery to repair his meniscus in January, failed his physical in Baltimore. Trades are not official until the players involved pass a physical.
It was obviously a disappointing setback for the Ravens, and reporters tried to put together what happened Tuesday night and Wednesday morning.
"The Ravens wanted this to work. They wanted Maxx Crosby to be on their team. They wanted to send two first-round picks to the Raiders for the rights to one of the best pass rushers in the NFL," NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported.
"They wanted it all to happen, and when it seemed like it was falling apart, they still tried to make it work. They just were not comfortable with the medical. They were not comfortable that the player they believed they were acquiring was going to be at a point where he could play to the level that they all thought. It all sucks."
The Ravens reportedly pivoted 13 hours later and landed the top edge rusher in free agency in Trey Hendrickson, who has reportedly agreed to a four-year deal. Still, there are many reports and opinions about how it all went down.
Here's a look at what pundits are saying about the Crosby situation:
What happened?
Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer: "My understanding is that the Ravens were not comfortable with the condition of Crosby's knee — in which he had a meniscus repair — after Tuesday's physical. So, what did the Ravens discover during the physical, or in the imaging they did themselves, that wasn't in the information the Raiders passed along to them during the normal course of the trade? That's the question. … Well, not all meniscus repairs heal properly, and the chance one wouldn't heal would go up as a player gets older. They also may have found more arthritis in the knee, at which point Crosby's longevity would become a bigger question. Either way, teams interested before Crosby was traded did have concerns about the toll his workload and breakneck playing style might've taken on him. And a meniscus injury can result from wear and tear."
The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec, Dianna Russini, and Vic Tafur: "Teams that were interested in trading for Crosby, including the Ravens, had conversations with his surgeon, Neal ElAttrache, and the Raiders' medical staff before making trade offers. The Ravens' doctors — along with multiple independent ones — reviewed Crosby's MRI. They were unified in the belief that Crosby's short-term outlook was positive, but there were concerns about the long-term prognosis of Crosby's knee, per league sources. Baltimore believed the risk was too high given the compensation it was giving up."
CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones: "Sources at multiple teams reached out to CBS Sports Tuesday night to say they had concerns about Crosby's knee during their own evaluation process. A Raiders source during Crosby's tenure with the team said he struggled to get through light practices at times due to knee and ankle issues."
Is it unprecedented for a trade to fall through due to health concerns?
ESPN’s Kevin Seifert: "The bottom line is that no trade, and no player transaction of any kind, is final until everyone involved passes a physical. In the NFL, there is no uniform standard for evaluating the results of a physical. Each team's decision-makers, in consultation with medical staff, use the information to make a projection about any potential health risks. In almost every instance, the physical is a formality. But there is recent precedent for NFL teams canceling trades over health concerns.
"Three recent examples include: The Houston Texans backed out of a 2022 trade for Miami Dolphins tight end Adam Shaheen because of concerns about a preexisting knee injury; the Minnesota Vikings called off a trade in 2020 for Raiders defensive tackle P.J. Hall, who failed a physical; the Texans and Seattle Seahawks amended a 2017 trade that was going to include cornerback Jeremy Lane. When Lane failed his physical, the Seahawks added draft-pick compensation to complete a deal that brought them left tackle Duane Brown."
ESPN's Jamison Hensley noted that the Ravens have had three such instances over the years.
Can deals of this magnitude require a higher bar to be cleared for the physical to go through?
ESPN injury analyst Stephania Bell: "The bar is set internally by the organization, as every deal is a value proposition of risk versus reward. When a unique, high-value talent is the potential acquisition, risk tolerance becomes a factor. Crosby's hefty contract and two first-round picks make for a high price and the Ravens would merely be doing their due diligence in leaving no stone unturned during the screening process. Trade physicals are akin to NFL combine screenings, where any previous injuries -- even if the player recovered to return to his previous level of play -- might warrant further evaluation, including imaging. The physical is conducted not only to evaluate the athlete at that moment in time, but also in consideration of his long-term playing health. Any concerns emanating from the physical are brought forward to the front office and ultimately factor into the team's final decision regarding the trade."
Ravens Reportedly Pursued Center Elgton Jenkins Before He Agreed to Terms With Browns
The Ravens need a center, but it apparently won't be two-time Pro Bowler Elgton Jenkins, who reportedly signed a two-year, $24 million deal with the Cleveland Browns.
Baltimore reportedly showed interest in Jenkins, who was released by the Green Bay Packers earlier this week.
Jenkins was a two-time Pro Bowl left guard before switching to center last season.
Patrick Ricard's Reported Exit Suggests New Direction for Ravens Offense
Six-time Pro Bowl fullback Patrick Ricard is the latest Ravens free agent to reunite with New York Giants Head Coach John Harbaugh.
Ricard, who has spent his entire nine-year career in Baltimore, reportedly agreed to a two-year deal that will make him the league's highest-paid fullback. He joins former teammates Likely, safety Ar'Darius Washington, and punter Jordan Stout in New York.
Zrebeic said that the Ravens not re-signing Ricard suggests a new direction for the offense under first-year Offensive Coordinator Declan Doyle, who did not have a true fullback with the Chicago Bears last season.
Apparently, Browns Head Coach Todd Monken was also seeking a reunion with Ricard.
