Maxx Crosby trade falls through, joining list of famously nixed deals

The Ravens backed out of a trade for the Raiders star due to concerns over his knee, the latest in a long line of high-profile transactions that never came to fruition.

Published on Mar. 11, 2026

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Four days after the Baltimore Ravens agreed to send two first-round picks to the Las Vegas Raiders for the services of All-Pro edge rusher Maxx Crosby, the deal was called off. Sources said Crosby's medical examination in Baltimore gave the Ravens concerns about the long-term health of his left knee, leading them to back out of the trade. Crosby's saga joins a list of famously nixed trades across the sports universe, including the NBA's veto of a Chris Paul trade to the Lakers in 2011 and Bill Belichick's abrupt resignation as Jets head coach in 2000.

Why it matters

Deals falling through at the last minute can have major ripple effects, dashing the hopes of fanbases and altering the trajectories of franchises. The Crosby trade collapse is the latest example, with the Ravens pivoting to sign another top free agent edge rusher in Trey Hendrickson instead.

The details

In the Crosby case, the Ravens had agreed to send two first-round picks to the Raiders in exchange for the All-Pro pass rusher. However, concerns over the long-term health of Crosby's left knee, which had previously been surgically repaired, led Baltimore to back out of the trade after his medical exam. Crosby had already posted a 13-minute goodbye video to Raiders fans before the deal fell through.

  • On March 7, 2026, the Ravens and Raiders agreed to a trade that would send Crosby to Baltimore.
  • On March 11, 2026, the Ravens backed out of the trade after Crosby's medical exam raised concerns about his left knee.

The players

Maxx Crosby

An All-Pro edge rusher for the Las Vegas Raiders who was the subject of a trade that fell through with the Baltimore Ravens.

Baltimore Ravens

The NFL team that agreed to trade two first-round picks for Maxx Crosby before backing out of the deal due to concerns over his knee.

Las Vegas Raiders

The NFL team that had agreed to trade Maxx Crosby to the Baltimore Ravens before the deal fell through.

Trey Hendrickson

The edge rusher the Ravens signed as a free agent after the Crosby trade fell through.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.