Maxx Crosby Free Agency & Trade Recap (Through March 11, 2026)

The 2026 NFL offseason will be remembered for the “Trade That Wasn’t.” Maxx Crosby, the heart and soul of the Las Vegas Raiders, appeared destined for a Super Bowl run in Baltimore before a stunning medical reversal sent him back to the desert.

 The Timeline of Chaos

Why did Baltimore back out? (The Athletic Source)

According to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, the trade collapsed because Crosby failed his physical. While the public narrative was that Crosby was “ahead of schedule,” the physical revealed complications from his January surgery. 

• Repair vs. Trim: Russini reports that Crosby underwent a full meniscus repair rather than a simple “trim.” While a trim allows for a 4–6 week recovery, a full repair requires months of limited weight-bearing to ensure the ligament heals.
• The Findings: Baltimore’s medical staff reportedly found “functional stability issues” and lingering inflammation that were not apparent in the medical records shared prior to the trade.
• Ravens Precedent: Russini notes that Baltimore is famously “the toughest physical in the league,” citing previous rescinded deals for Michael Brockers and Ryan Grant.

Where Will He Go? Pros & Cons

1. Las Vegas Raiders (The Status Quo)

• Pros: They hold the most leverage. With $87M–$119M in cap space, they don’t need to move his contract.
• Cons: The bridge may be burned. Schefter reported that Crosby’s desire to play for a contender is well-known, and returning to a team with a rookie QB (Fernando Mendoza) might be a “distraction.”

2. Chicago Bears (The Logical Suitor)

• Pros: GM Ryan Poles has the $38M in room to fit Crosby’s $35.8M cap hit. Pair him with Montez Sweat to create the league’s most feared duo.
• Cons: Poles is also cautious with medicals (see: Larry Ogunjobi). He likely won’t pay the original “two 1st-rounders” price now.

3. Dallas Cowboys (The Aggressive Play)

• Pros: Jerry Jones reportedly offered a “Micah Parsons-style package” before the Ravens deal. Tom Pelissero reports Dallas is “still interested” despite the failed physical.
• Cons: They are currently tight on effective cap space due to impending extensions for their own stars.

The Cap Room Factor (Source: Spotrac)

According to Spotrac, the following teams have the flexibility to absorb Crosby’s $35,887,500 cap hit for 2026 (subject to change from time of posting)

1. Las Vegas Raiders: ~$119.5M (Adjusted after recent moves)
2. Tennessee Titans: ~$95.3M
3. Washington Commanders: ~$76M (Potential dark horse)
4. New England Patriots: ~$43.2M
5. Chicago Bears: ~$38.1M

The “Schefter” Perspective

Source: @AdamSchefter

“Raiders already have received calls from ‘several’ teams inquiring… For now, the Raiders are prepared to get Crosby healthy and have him play for Las Vegas. But they are listening.”

Finn’s Analysis: This is a classic leverage play. By leaking through Schefter that they might keep him, the Raiders are trying to prevent the “failed physical” from tanking his trade value. They want the league to believe Baltimore was just being “overly conservative.”

But, if Adam Schefter is right, Baltimore wanted to not swap Crosby with TreyHendrickson, but to pair them together on the front line! (H/T ABC’S J. D. West)

“Just enjoy the thought of Rodgers getting destroyed by those two!” – J.D. West

Should the Bears take a run on Maxx Crosby, again?

Not for 2 firsts. The Trey Hendrickson deal just re-set the market, and no matter what his surgeon says, whether or not Maxx Crosby is ready for training camp can still be a crap shoot. To put 10% of the cap, and 2 first-rounders, is one Helluva bet especially when alternative plans have already been put in place.

If the price comes down, then Chef Poles will likely take another crack. But that price has to come down.