Five intriguing developments from first week of 2026 NFL free agency

The Ravens shocked the football world Tuesday evening when medical reasons caused them to pull out of a blockbuster trade agreement to acquire Maxx Crosby from the Raiders in exchange for a pair of first-round picks. To be frank, I’ve never seen a trade of this magnitude fall through during my three decades in the NFL. I felt that trade would have been a win-win for all parties: the five-time Pro Bowler would get a fresh start on a contender, the Ravens would improve their defensive front and the Raiders would earn some great draft capital as they look toward yet another rebuild under a new regime. Well, I’m doubling down: I still see this as a win-win.

On the Ravens’ side, general manager Eric DeCosta’s comments Wednesday — he said he was “gutted” about the trade collapsing — seemed sincere. Whatever ends up happening with Crosby’s surgically repaired knee, though, I do believe this was the right decision. Baltimore kept those valuable draft assets, and the signing of Trey Hendrickson still boosts Anthony Weaver’s defense a great deal. Let’s not forget that Hendrickson posted back-to-back 17.5-sack seasons in Cincinnati in 2023 and ’24.

The Raiders’ half of the equation requires a little more glass-half-full thinking. There’s no question that those extra first-rounders would have helped their long-term project. But during the days when it seemed like they were going to have to replace Crosby, they made their roster undoubtedly better, scooping up an elite center (Tyler Linderbaum) and adding real talent (Kwity Paye, Nakobe Dean, Quay Walker, Taron Johnson) to a defense that was pretty thin beyond Crosby last season. They’ll still presumably have a chance to move Crosby for picks, but if they don’t, and Crosby stays healthy, they’ll have one of the most relentless pass rushers in the game chasing QBs for them, only with more help and, if it’s humanly possible, more motivation than before. If Las Vegas drafts Fernando Mendoza No. 1 overall, having a stronger team around him in his rookie year can only augment the QB’s development (and ease Klint Kubiak’s transition to the head coach’s chair). Plus, Crosby could rebuild his trade value for a potential move at the trade deadline or next offseason. In short, the Raiders still have plenty going for them here, as bad as things might have looked in the immediate aftermath of the non-trade.