The Las Vegas Raiders almost traded one of their biggest stars during the offseason, but it wasn’t meant to be. We’re, of course, talking about edge-rusher Maxx Crosby.
The Raiders were all set to trade Crosby to the Baltimore Ravens, but then, the deal fell through. Crosby failed his physical. The Ravens didn’t want to take a chance, especially since they were giving up two first-round draft picks for Crosby.
So, the deal was reversed, and now, Crosby is back with the Raiders. If that deal had gone through, one NFL analyst thinks it would have been an absolute home run for the Raiders. He could still be traded, of course. One option is the 49ers. But, either way you look at it, the Raiders-Ravens trade was a bust.
Raiders criticized for the Maxx Crosby trade gone wrong
In a feature for ESPN out on Tuesday, Seth Walder says he liked the Raiders trying to trade Crosby away.
“The Raiders brought in Klint Kubiak as coach and drafted Mendoza this offseason, but perhaps the team’s most noteworthy decision was one that ultimately came undone — trading Crosby to the Ravens, only for it to fall apart,” he notes in the piece.
He adds that the team was “trading a soon-to-be-29-year-old player on a salary-laden contract (meaning: mostly off their books) for two first-round picks. It was a clear victory, despite the emotional pain. Unfortunately for Las Vegas, it was not to be.”
So, Walder gives the Raiders a C grade for their overall offseason moves. The Raiders’ biggest move, though, in this reporter’s analysis, was drafting quarterback Fernando Mendoza. The No. 1 pick and veteran Kirk Cousins give Raiders fans something to watch now and in the future.