The NFL world was buzzing when the Las Vegas Raiders announced that their trade with the Baltimore Ravens for star defensive end Maxx Crosby had fallen through. The reason?
Crosby didn't pass his physical, according to The Athletic's Dianna Russini. This comes after Crosby underwent meniscus repair surgery in January.
Just last Friday, Russini reported that the Ravens were on the brink of acquiring Crosby in exchange for two first-round picks-a bold move for Baltimore. But after Crosby's medical evaluation at the Ravens' facility, Baltimore decided to back out of the deal, leaving Crosby with the Raiders for now. This unexpected turn of events means the Ravens keep their first-round picks, and the trade is off the table.
Trades and contracts can't be finalized until the new league year kicks off on Wednesday at 4 p.m. EST, highlighting the unpredictability of these deals. Crosby had even shared a video bidding farewell to Las Vegas and greeting Baltimore, making the collapse of the trade all the more surprising.
With the trade off, speculation is swirling about what comes next for Crosby, the Ravens, and the Raiders. NFL insider Jordan Schultz added fuel to the fire, tweeting a GM's prediction: "Baltimore is gonna sign Trey Hendrickson. Watch."
Hendrickson, now 31, is a free agent after the Cincinnati Bengals chose not to franchise tag him. Both he and Crosby were top options at defensive end, though Crosby's availability was mainly due to trade rumors.
The Ravens, having lost out on Crosby and nine unrestricted free agents since the legal tampering period began, need a strategic play. However, considering Crosby's failed physical, they might hesitate to invest heavily in Hendrickson, who played just seven games last year and had core muscle surgery in December.
ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that Hendrickson has been in talks with several teams, seeking a contract similar to the hefty deals recently signed by Jaelan Phillips and Danielle Hunter. Hendrickson is expected to make a decision soon, with the Dallas Cowboys also in the mix after narrowly missing out on Crosby. The situation remains fluid, and all eyes are on Hendrickson's next move.