In another timeline, Maxx Crosby and not Myles Garrett, would have already played in Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season. Following his failed trade to the Baltimore Ravens, Crosby was reportedly pursued by a number of teams, including the Los Angeles Rams, according to ESPN.
That deal — and offers from other teams — never materialized, leading to Crosby staying with the Las Vegas Raiders to start the 2026 season. Of all the subsequent offers for Crosby, the Rams’ deal came the closest to getting done, per ESPN.
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It was a tumultuous offseason for Crosby, who in March was traded to the Ravens in exchange for multiple first-round picks. Days later, however, the Ravens backed out of the deal due to a failed physical by Crosby, who had surgery on his knee in the offseason.
If Crosby was upset about the deal falling through, he didn’t show it. Shortly after the news, Crosby tweeted, “I’m a Raider. I’m back.” That tweet also seemed to imply Crosby did not want to be traded away once the Ravens’ deal fell apart.
But that didn’t stop other teams from trying, per ESPN. The Rams, Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles and San Francsico 49ers were reportedly all involved in potential offers for Crosby, many of which were for “pennies on the dollars,” according to ESPN.
Crosby, meanwhile, reportedly kept telling teams he wanted to remain with the Raiders.
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With the Rams and Raiders failing to come together on a trade, Los Angeles eventually opted to go all-in for Myles Garrett. The move cost the team Jared Verse and multiple draft picks.
Since entering the NFL in 2019, Crosby has emerged as one of the best defensive ends in football. The 29-year-old has made five straight Pro Bowls and has led the league in tackles for loss twice.
In 2025, the Raiders signed Crosby to a three-year, $106.5 million extension, keeping him in Las Vegas through the 2029 NFL season.
