Raiders’ Maxx Crosby has ‘degenerative’ knee issue, per NFL insider

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24 March 2026 at 19:29

The NFL world was turned on its head at the start of the new league year, when the Las Vegas Raiders agreed to trade superstar pass rusher Maxx Crosby to the Baltimore Ravens for two first-round picks. A few days later, the Ravens backed out of the trade.

Baltimore reportedly had concerns about Crosby’s knee, which led to the two-time All-Pro returning to Vegas.

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This week, ESPN’s Ryan McFadden shared some insight on what led to the Crosby deal falling apart, with reports of “degenerative issues” in his knee.

Nov 30, 2025; Inglewood, California, USA; Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) reacts against the Los Angeles Chargers during the first half at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images

“In addition to their own doctors, the Ravens had a handful of doctors outside the organization weigh in on Crosby’s knee, including Dan Cooper, a renowned knee specialist and the Cowboys’ team doctor,” McFadden wrote. “But Cooper was not the primary voice in determining whether Baltimore should back out of the deal.

“The consensus was that Crosby would be able to play in 2026. The Ravens’ concern centered on the uncertainty of Crosby’s durability after a couple of seasons in Baltimore because of a degenerative issue in his knee, a source told ESPN.”

Crosby and the Raiders appear to have sorted out their differences, and he now plans to remain with the Raiders, where he has always said he wants to be.

The Ravens, meanwhile, turned their attention to former division rival Trey Hendrickson, who inked a four-year deal with a base of $112 million and a max of $120 million with the team.