Maxx Crosby wound up staying put after the Ravens’ failed trade attempt in March, but he wasn’t short on suitors once that deal collapsed.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Sunday that the Rams kept pressing for Crosby after the Baltimore move fell apart because of a failed physical. Los Angeles, he said, was the most aggressive team in the mix.
“Sources told NFL Network that Los Angeles pursued Crosby shortly after his trade from the Las Vegas Raiders to the Baltimore Ravens fell through because of a failed physical,” Rapoport reported on Sunday.
“Other teams were interested, but the Rams, with their propensity to swing big, were the strongest club pushing for a deal, according to sources. But before there could be anything official, Crosby let it be known to anyone interested that he did not want to be traded. He wanted to remain with the Raiders, and he let his own organization know as well.”
The Rams have since moved on and traded for Myles Garrett, but Rapoport also said the Eagles, Cowboys and 49ers were among the teams that hoped to land Crosby at a lower price after the Baltimore agreement unraveled.
That list could matter again later this season. On the pass-rush front, nothing significant has changed for Philadelphia, Dallas or San Francisco since March, which leaves room for all three to take another run at Crosby if the Raiders listen near the trade deadline.
Dallas, in particular, looks like a team to keep an eye on. It was reported in March that the Cowboys’ team doctor was among the doctors the Ravens consulted before backing out of the Crosby deal, and Jerry Jones said that same month he wouldn’t rule out revisiting the idea down the road.
At the time, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler said Dallas was crushed when the move didn’t get done.
“The Raiders had two teams willing to swing for the fence here; the Cowboys and the Ravens,” Fowler said on ESPN’s SportsCenter in March.
“The Ravens were willing to give up the two first-round picks, the Cowboys simply were not and I was told the Cowboys were low key devastated. They really wanted Maxx Crosby.
They were eyeing him for months, but they just had a tipping point. It was a first-round pick and a second-round pick.
They tried to involve a veteran player or two to sweeten the deal. The Raiders didn’t want to do that.
They simply wanted the youth and the draft picks.”
Jones, who turns 84 next month, has been open about not having much time left to chase another Super Bowl. He’s said another title is what he wants before he’s gone.
So if Dallas is in the playoff picture in early November and Las Vegas isn’t, the Cowboys could end up making the loudest push for Crosby before the November 10 trade deadline.
In Other News...
Raiders Face An Early Brock Bowers Problem They Can't Ignore
Brock Bowers wont be available when the Raiders open the season against the Dolphins, and that puts an immediate spotlight on how Las Vegas plans to move forward without one of its most important young playmakers. Head coach Klint Kubiak confirmed the tight end has been ruled out after undergoing a meniscus trim surgery on his knee, a development that leaves the team to adjust its Week 1 plans before the games even start.
The bigger concern for the Raiders is that no specific return timeline has been set, which makes Bowers absence feel less like a short detour and more like the start of a cautious waiting game. Given the teams awareness of his previous knee issues, this is clearly a situation Las Vegas is handling carefully, but it also means the offense has to be ready for an early stretch without the player it was built to feature. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Week 1 Inactives Include One Surprise Fans Didnt See Coming
The Raiders first game of the season brought one notable wrinkle before kickoff, as the clubs Week 1 inactive list against the Dolphins included linebacker Cody Lindenberg. Las Vegas also ruled out quarterback Aidan OConnell, who is serving as the emergency third quarterback, along with tight end Brock Bowers, safety Dalton Johnson, defensive tackle JJ Pegues, cornerback Darrell Luter Jr. and interior offensive lineman Bryce Cabeldue.
For a team sorting through roster decisions and health questions in the opening week, the inactive list offered an early look at how the Raiders want to shape the sideline mix against Miami. Some of the names were expected because of injury or recent acquisition status, but Lindenbergs designation stood out as the one fans probably did not have circled when the day began. [Read more 🡒]
Ashton Jeanty Injury Scare Just Raised A Bigger Raiders Question
Ashton Jeantys leg injury during Raiders practice on Aug. 23 briefly shifted the focus away from roster battles and onto the kind of scare that can stop a camp in its tracks. Teammates and coaches immediately knelt and prayed for him, a reminder of how quickly a late-summer practice can turn from routine to uneasy. Jeanty later said he felt encouraged by the support around him, which helped steady a situation that had everyone watching closely.
Even before the injury, the Raiders were heading toward a backfield plan that would spread the workload around rather than asking one runner to carry everything. Mike Washington Jr. is expected to share carries with Jeanty in a two-back setup, making the composition of that rotation a real talking point as the season nears. For a team trying to find its offensive identity, Jeantys recovery now matters not just for his own outlook, but for how quickly Las Vegas can settle into the role distribution it already appeared ready to use. [Read more 🡒]