Ravens among teams keeping close tabs on Maxx Crosby's availability
· Yahoo Sports
The Las Vegas Raiders might be the most interesting team in the National Football League this offseason. They have the #1 overall pick in next month's draft, plus their franchise cornerstone, defensive end Maxx Crosby, could be the top player available on the trade market. With rumors swirling in every direction and numerous teams said to be interested, there is talk that the five-time Pro Bowler could be moved as early as this week.
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The Baltimore Ravens are among the seven teams keen on Crosby, according to a report by Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer.
Joining the Ravens in the Crosby derby are the Dallas Cowboys, Chicago Bears, Buffalo Bills, New England Patriots, Philadelphia Eagles, and L.A. Rams. "March Madness," NFL style, is about to erupt, as we're going to see numerous players on the move, via free agency and trades.
The Crosby situation is especially interesting, given how neither the individual player nor his current team has openly sent any signals that a parting of ways could be on the horizon.
"I don't think the Raiders want to go through the song-and-dance of shopping him, nor do I believe Crosby wants it advertised that he's looking for suitors, given his bond with Owner Mark Davis, and his view of himself as a Raider," Breer wrote. "So what would be the cleanest for everyone is for a market to emerge organically. And that could happen, given that most teams are going to start spending to their cap and cash budgets, and filling roster spots a week from now."
The Ravens could be a perfect fit, for many reasons, as a superstar edge rusher is exactly what they need right now. Most pundits and analysts believe the Ravens will address the pass-rushing concerns in the upcoming draft, as it is certainly among their most critical team needs.
And what better way to shore that up but with a proven veteran, a five-time Pro Bowler who is a nightmare for opposing offensive coordinators to scheme against? And on the other side, it has been widely (well, maybe not reported) speculated that Crosby's top priority right now is to be part of a winning program.
Las Vegas is certainly not that. Just like any team that holds the #1 pick, they have a massive rebuild on their hands, and it likely takes a long time to try and get it turned around. Crosby is understood to want to play for a contender, and Baltimore was just a few inches away (Tyler Loop's season-ending missed field goal in Pittsburgh) from making the postseason.
"I mean it's always about winning," Crosby said exclusively to RG.org. "The Pro Bowls, All-Pros, the stats and things like that that come along with it. That's by all the work that you put in, the dedication and delivering those results on Sundays, where all that comes into play. That's something that you know continuously, I want to continue doing."
Maybe the Eastern Michigan graduate should come to Charm City and become the final piece of the puzzle that propels the Ravens on a deep postseason run? He won't come cheap. About a year ago at this time, Crosby inked a three-year contract extension worth $106.5 million, with $91.5 million guaranteed. At $35.5 million per season, he immediately became the league's highest-paid player who wasn't a quarterback.
The Raiders are reportedly looking to get two first-rounders in return, and maybe also a player as well. Most likely, they will use that No. 1 overall pick on Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza. He's more than a Heisman trophy winner. He literally helped to rewrite college football history, and he could join an ultra-exclusive group in April.
Only four players, Joe Burrow, Jameis Winston, Cam Newton, and Angelo Bertelli, have a Heisman, NCAA title, and #1 overall pick on their resume. Mendoza looks poised to join them, and the Raiders might use this draft to find a top-flight receiver to pair with him. Trading Crosby to get draft picks might be the means to that end.
And while we've seen reports that the Ravens are not interested in trading their WR2, Rashod Bateman, they could change their mind if it means sweetening a deal to land Crosby.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Could the Ravens and Maxx Crosby be a perfect match?