Emmanuel Acho Accuses Ravens of 'Intentional Hit Job' on Maxx Crosby

The former NFL player and analyst believes the Ravens' failed trade for the Raiders star was not about Crosby's injury.

Mar. 13, 2026 at 3:25am

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Former NFL player and analyst Emmanuel Acho has accused the Baltimore Ravens of an 'intentional hit job' in their failed trade for Las Vegas Raiders star defensive end Maxx Crosby. Acho believes the Ravens' decision to walk away from the trade was not about Crosby's injury, as they claimed, but rather an attempt to sign Trey Hendrickson, the former Cincinnati Bengals edge rusher, for a cheaper price. Acho also criticized reporters Adam Schefter and Dianna Russini for allegedly repeating the Ravens' narrative that the trade fell through due to Crosby's injury.

Why it matters

This case highlights the complex dynamics between teams, players, and the media in the NFL free agency process. Acho's accusations raise questions about the transparency and fairness of team decision-making, as well as the role of the media in shaping the narrative around such high-profile transactions.

The details

The Ravens had initially agreed to a trade for Crosby, a five-time Pro Bowl edge rusher, but backed out of the deal 24 hours later, citing a failed physical. The team then signed Hendrickson, a four-time Pro Bowl edge rusher, to a four-year, $112 million contract. Acho believes the Ravens' true motivation was to acquire Hendrickson for a cheaper price, rather than any concerns about Crosby's injury.

  • On March 12, 2026, the Ravens walked away from the trade for Maxx Crosby.
  • On March 13, 2026, the Ravens signed Trey Hendrickson to a four-year, $112 million contract.

The players

Emmanuel Acho

A former NFL player and current sports analyst who has accused the Ravens of an 'intentional hit job' in their failed trade for Maxx Crosby.

Maxx Crosby

A five-time Pro Bowl edge rusher for the Las Vegas Raiders, who was the subject of the failed trade with the Ravens.

Trey Hendrickson

A four-time Pro Bowl edge rusher who the Ravens signed to a four-year, $112 million contract after the failed Crosby trade.

Eric DeCosta

The general manager of the Baltimore Ravens, who addressed the failed Crosby trade and said he was 'gutted' by the outcome.

Lamar Jackson

The quarterback of the Baltimore Ravens, whose contract was restructured to create nearly $40 million in cap space for the team.

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What they’re saying

“Maxx should feel DISGUSTED…by the intentional public hit job by so many reporters”

— Emmanuel Acho, Former NFL player and analyst

“Nobody's more upset about this than me — gutted by it actually. And so a regret, a big regret for me, but we will move on as a football team.”

— Eric DeCosta, General Manager, Baltimore Ravens

What’s next

The NFL community will likely continue to scrutinize the Ravens' decision-making and the media's role in shaping the narrative around the failed Crosby trade.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the complex power dynamics and potential conflicts of interest between teams, players, and the media in the high-stakes world of NFL free agency, raising questions about transparency, fairness, and the integrity of the process.