LAS VEGAS — Before the Los Angeles Rams made their blockbuster move for Myles Garrett, they reportedly wanted another superstar pass rusher. Maxx Crosby. According to NFL Network, the Rams aggressively pursued Crosby after the Las Vegas Raiders’ proposed trade sending him to the Baltimore Ravens collapsed because of concerns surrounding his surgically repaired knee.
Los Angeles wasn’t alone. The Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers were among the teams reportedly monitoring Crosby’s availability. But there was one significant problem for every interested organization. Crosby didn’t want to leave Las Vegas.
The Raiders originally agreed to send Crosby to Baltimore in a blockbuster that would’ve returned two first-round picks to Las Vegas. The deal fell apart after the Ravens weren’t comfortable with Crosby’s knee during the physical process.
That unexpectedly returned Crosby to the organization he had spent his entire NFL career representing. His reaction immediately went viral.
“I’m a Raider. I’m back. Run that s—.” Apparently, Crosby wasn’t simply talking. When other teams began exploring whether Las Vegas would reconsider moving him, Crosby made it known that he wasn’t interested in another trade.
That included the Rams. Crosby also communicated his desire to remain with the Raiders directly to the organization. Once that happened, the possibility of another blockbuster essentially disappeared.
Teams Tried to Buy Low
There was another reason a second trade never gained traction. According to the report, interested teams weren’t offering anything close to the compensation Baltimore had previously put on the table.
One source described the offers as “pennies on the dollar.” Essentially, teams hoped the failed physical had changed Crosby’s value and that Las Vegas might be willing to unload him at a discount.
The Raiders weren’t interested. Nor should they have been. Trading one of the NFL’s premier defensive players for significantly less than the two first-round selections they had previously secured would’ve been difficult to justify. With Crosby making it clear he wanted to stay, Las Vegas had little incentive to continue negotiating.
Rams Eventually Pivoted to Garrett
The Rams, however, remained determined to land an elite pass rusher. Once Crosby became unavailable, Los Angeles eventually turned its attention toward Garrett and completed one of the offseason’s biggest trades.
That revelation makes the Crosby situation even more fascinating. Los Angeles wasn’t merely checking on his availability. According to the report, the Rams were the strongest team pursuing him.
Had Crosby wanted out of Las Vegas, one of the NFL’s biggest defensive stars could’ve ended up in Los Angeles. Instead, he chose the Silver and Black.
Raiders’ Situation Has Changed Dramatically
The Raiders team Crosby returned to also looks significantly different from the one that originally agreed to trade him. Las Vegas spent aggressively in free agency, pouring hundreds of millions of dollars into upgrading its roster.
What initially appeared to be an organization prepared to move one of its cornerstone players has transformed into one attempting to build a competitive roster around him.
There also appears to be encouraging news regarding the issue that killed the Baltimore trade. Crosby’s knee reportedly hasn’t caused additional problems, and he is said to be in excellent health. If that continues, Baltimore’s failed physical may eventually be remembered as one of the biggest turning points of the Raiders’ offseason.
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Robert LaMar is a Deputy Editor for Dice City Sports. You can follow him on X via @RobertLaMar26
