Maxx Crosby calls nixed Ravens trade 'water under the bridge' as he refocuses on Raiders

“I'm here and I want to be here and I'm excited to be here. I've got a lot of work to do.”

The Raiders had agreed to send Crosby to the Ravens for two first-round draft picks on March 6, but Baltimore backed out four days later. That decision to exit the deal was made a 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. 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 never will change. (The trade is) part of the business. There are lot of other things that don't need to be discussed, but ultimately I'm exactly here I want to be.”

Crosby had surgery in January to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee. He missed the final two games of the season because of the injury despite wanting to play through it at the time.

Though still in recovery mode, Crosby has been with the team during stretching exercises at organized team activities before leaving the field to work out in 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 been through, but ultimately it's been the best by far and we're not even to the finish line. ... I'm real close, but I'm at that point where I forget. I need to relax a little bit. That's kind of been the biggest battle right now because I'm almost back to being out there.”

Getting Crosby back occurred 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 to Ravens center Tyler Linderbaum, the richest ever for an interior offensive lineman.

Las Vegas still had room under the salary cap with Crosby back because the Raiders entered free agency with nearly $112 million in salary 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 turns 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 base 4-3 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 an opportunity to coach him,” Leonard said. “It’s awesome to help him toward some of his goals as well as the defense and this organization. I just think how much he’s given and sacrificed for this place. To help make something we’re all proud of would be really cool.”

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL