The past 24 hours have been a rollercoaster for the Baltimore Ravens. The team saw nine key players depart in free agency, a tough hit that seemed balanced by the anticipated arrival of star pass-rusher Maxx Crosby. However, the situation took a turn when the Ravens backed out of the Crosby deal after he reportedly failed his physical, despite the hefty cost of two first-round picks.
This unexpected twist raised eyebrows around the league. Was it truly about Crosby's medical concerns, or did the Ravens have second thoughts about parting with their first-round selections?
Despite the setback, Baltimore was clearly gearing up to bring Crosby on board. They even restructured star quarterback Lamar Jackson’s contract to make room for the deal, as reported by Aditi Kinkhabwala of CBS Sports.
"The #Ravens renegotiated Lamar Jackson’s contract YESTERDAY to create more cap room," Kinkhabwala shared. "They were clearly readying to onboard Maxx Crosby - until the medical assessment made the price of two first round picks too risky."
For Ravens fans, this news is significant, especially those curious about Jackson's future with the team. There had been whispers of Jackson wanting out after a reported fallout with former head coach John Harbaugh, and some speculated the Ravens were hesitant to invest heavily in Jackson moving forward.
However, ESPN’s Adam Schefter provided clarity, noting that the restructured deal keeps the two-time MVP in Baltimore and frees up a substantial amount of salary cap space. "Ravens have reworked the contract of Lamar Jackson, as @AKinkhabwala also reported," Schefter confirmed.
"Sources say the restructure with Jackson creates about $40 million in salary cap space for the 2026 season. It’s similar to what Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen have done this offseason for their teams."
This maneuver not only secures Jackson’s place with the Ravens but also positions the team to be active players in free agency, potentially reshaping their roster for the upcoming season.