In a whirlwind of NFL trade drama, the Las Vegas Raiders were set to send star pass-rusher Maxx Crosby to the Baltimore Ravens. However, amidst the buzz, reports emerged suggesting Raiders minority owner Tom Brady had no plans to ship Crosby to his old stomping grounds, the New England Patriots. Brady, who led the Patriots to six Super Bowl victories, seems to have kept his influence at bay on this one.
Patriots executive vice president of player personnel, Eliot Wolf, addressed the rumors head-on. When asked if Brady was involved in blocking a trade to New England, Wolf was skeptical.
"No, I’d be surprised if that was true," he remarked. Wolf, who shares a solid rapport with Raiders GM John Spytek, dismissed the notion as a non-issue.
In a twist, the Ravens backed out of the Crosby deal after he reportedly failed his physical. Although Wolf admitted the Patriots make numerous exploratory calls, he stopped short of confirming any real pursuit of Crosby.
The fallout from the Ravens' decision has stirred the pot, with several anonymous executives criticizing Ravens GM Eric DeCosta for leaving the Raiders in a bind. The Ravens nixed the trade just before the new league year began, opting instead to secure Cincinnati Bengals pass-rusher Trey Hendrickson with a hefty four-year, $112 million contract, $60 million of which is guaranteed.
Reflecting on the situation, Wolf noted, "I didn’t know too much about it. Every team and GM must act in their team's best interest. This one was a bit unusual, but that’s their business."
With the trade off the table, Crosby is likely staying put in Las Vegas, at least through the 2026 season. The Raiders are reportedly informing teams that the 28-year-old, who recently underwent a meniscus repair, is not on the trading block.
When pressed about future interest in Crosby, Wolf played it cool. "I’d have to talk to (director of research) Richard Miller about our numbers right now," he said, leaving the door open for possibilities down the line. As the NFL landscape shifts, the Crosby saga remains one to watch.