Ravens Accused of 'Slow Play' on Maxx Crosby Trade

Rival executives claim Baltimore deliberately delayed Crosby's physical to back out of blockbuster deal

Apr. 3, 2026 at 12:50pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a football player in mid-motion, with their face and uniform obscured into sharp, overlapping planes of color and form, conveying the raw energy and athleticism of the sport.The Ravens' calculated maneuvering around the Maxx Crosby trade deal exposes the cutthroat nature of the NFL's power dynamics.Cleveland Today

The Baltimore Ravens backed out of a trade for star pass rusher Maxx Crosby, citing concerns over a failed physical after a January meniscus repair. However, rival NFL executives are accusing the Ravens of deliberately slow-playing the medical check in order to create an opportunity to sign Trey Hendrickson instead without giving up any draft capital.

Why it matters

The collapsed Crosby trade has major implications across the AFC North. It allowed the Ravens to sign Hendrickson to a lucrative deal, shifting the balance of power in the division. Meanwhile, the Raiders are left in a difficult position, having to reintegrate Crosby after he was nearly traded away.

The details

The Ravens agreed to send two first-round picks to the Raiders for Crosby on the Friday before free agency opened. However, they waited until the following Tuesday to have Crosby undergo a physical, raising suspicions among rival executives. One front office source said, 'I would not put it past them to agree to this trade and then slow-play the physical.' Another executive was more blunt, stating, 'If you really wanted the guy, you would get him in there for his physical as soon as possible.' The Ravens ultimately backed out of the deal, allowing them to pivot and sign Hendrickson to a lucrative four-year, $112 million contract.

  • On the Friday before free agency, the Ravens agreed to trade two first-round picks to the Raiders for Maxx Crosby.
  • The Ravens waited until the following Tuesday to have Crosby undergo a physical, raising suspicions among rival executives.
  • On Tuesday, the Ravens backed out of the Crosby trade entirely, citing concerns over the failed physical.

The players

Eric DeCosta

The general manager of the Baltimore Ravens who agreed to the Maxx Crosby trade before backing out of it.

Maxx Crosby

The star pass rusher for the Las Vegas Raiders who was nearly traded to the Ravens before the deal fell through.

Trey Hendrickson

The former Cincinnati Bengals defensive end who the Ravens signed to a lucrative four-year, $112 million contract after backing out of the Crosby trade.

Sashi Brown

The president of the Baltimore Ravens who publicly insisted the team did things the right way in the Crosby trade negotiations.

John Spytek

The general manager of the Las Vegas Raiders who agreed to trade Maxx Crosby to the Ravens before the deal fell through.

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What they’re saying

“Meniscus repairs are notoriously tricky for heavy defensive linemen, giving Baltimore plenty of plausible deniability.”

— Sashi Brown, President, Baltimore Ravens

What’s next

The Ravens' decision to back out of the Crosby trade and sign Hendrickson instead has shifted the power dynamic in the AFC North. The Raiders must now reintegrate Crosby into their roster, while other teams will likely try to lowball them in trade negotiations.

The takeaway

This situation highlights the cutthroat nature of the NFL trade market, where teams will go to great lengths to gain an advantage. The Ravens' alleged 'slow play' on Crosby's physical raises questions about transparency and fair dealing in the league, and could have lasting implications for the balance of power in the AFC North.