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Raiders star pass rusher Maxx Crosby said Wednesday that he has moved on since the Ravens rejected his trade to Baltimore in March, and that his focus is on preparing for another season in Las Vegas.
“It’s a thing of the past,” Crosby said in his first comments to reporters in Las Vegas. “It was a long time ago. I learned a lot of things about what’s going on and what this league can bring. A lot of adversity, a lot of different things that you can’t really anticipate. But I’ve been through a lot in my life. It’s nothing to me.
“I’m here and I want to be here and I’m excited to be here. I have a lot of work to do.”
The Raiders had agreed to send Crosby to the Ravens for two first-round picks on March 6, but Baltimore backed out four days later. That decision to exit the deal was made one day before the new NFL year, when deals can be finalized.
A person with knowledge of Baltimore’s decision told The Associated Press at the time that Crosby failed his physical exam. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because those results are private.
“Everyone knows my love and appreciation for this organization,” said Crosby, who was selected by the Raiders in the fourth round of the 2019 draft. “That will never change. (Trading is) part of the business. There are a lot of other things that don’t need to be discussed, but in the end I’m here exactly where I want to be.”
Crosby underwent surgery in January to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee. He missed the final two games of the season due to the injury despite wanting to play at the time.
Although still in recovery mode, Crosby has been with the team during stretching exercises at organized team activities before leaving the field to work out at the Raiders’ facility.
Coach Klint Kubiak has said he expected Crosby to be ready for training camp in late July.
“This has been a long road to recovery,” Crosby said. “It’s probably the longest rehab I’ve ever been through, but in the end it was the best by far and we’re not even at the finish line… I’m so close, but I’m at that point where I forget. I need to relax a little bit. That’s been the biggest battle right now because I’m almost back out there.”
Crosby’s turnaround came after Raiders general manager John Spytek committed nearly $300 million to eight free agents. That included a three-year, $81 million contract that includes $60 million guaranteed for Ravens center Tyler Linderbaum, the richest ever for an interior offensive lineman.
Las Vegas still had cap space with Crosby back because the Raiders entered free agency with nearly $112 million in cap space, according to overthecap.com.
The Raiders signed Crosby to a three-year extension in March 2025 worth $106.5 million, with $91.5 million guaranteed, to keep him in Las Vegas through the 2029 season. That deal at the time made him the highest-paid non-quarterback in league history.
Crosby, who will turn 29 in August, had 10 sacks and a career-high 28 tackles for loss last season and has reached double-digit sacks four times in his seven seasons.
He is learning a new scheme under first-year defensive coordinator Rob Leonard, who is switching from a 4-3 base alignment to a 3-4. But Crosby has worked closely with Leonard, who was the Raiders’ defensive line coach the previous three seasons.
“Probably the biggest reason I came here was the opportunity to coach him,” Leonard said. “It’s awesome to help him achieve some of his goals, as well as the defense and this organization. I just think about how much he’s given and sacrificed for this place. Helping do something we’re all proud of would be really cool.”
Associated Press information.
