Raiders trade Maxx Crosby to Ravens for 2 first-round draft picks, sources say – The Mercury News

Written by ROB MAADDI

Five-time Pro Bowl running back Maxx Crosby is headed to the Baltimore Ravens, two people with knowledge of the transaction told The Associated Press on Friday night.

Both people spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal won’t be announced until the start of the NFL’s new year next week.

The Las Vegas Raiders will receive two first-round picks from the Ravens, including the No.

The 28-year-old Crosby had 10 sacks and a career-high 28 tackles for loss last season, and has reached double-digit sacks four times in his seven seasons.

Baltimore, with first-year coach Jesse Minter, is in winning mode now with three-time All-Pro quarterback Lamar Jackson. Crosby is a key boost to a defense that finished tied for 28th in the league with just 30 sacks last season.

He is the ultimate pass rusher who can switch teams at a great price. Micah Parsons was traded from Dallas to Green Bay last year for two first-round picks and three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kenny Clark.

The last time the Ravens didn’t have a first-round pick was 2012.

Crosby has long insisted he wants to play his entire career with the Raiders, but his frustration with organizational issues was evident even before the end of last season, when the team placed him on injured reserve with two games left due to a knee injury. Crosby, who prides himself on staying off the field despite playing through various injuries throughout much of his career, left the team’s facility after being told of the decision.

Given the opportunity last month to deny reports that he wanted out of Las Vegas, Crosby instead said that such talk was not coming from him. However, he never said he wanted to return to the Raiders.

“I just sit and laugh because I know my truth and when I sleep at night, I have a smile because I don’t have to explain anything to anyone,” said Crosby from the page “The Herd with Cowherd.”

He told Cowherd that he is focusing on rehabbing his left knee that happened about a month ago.

“I’m early, and it’s business as usual,” Crosby said. “My eighth surgery in seven years. It’s something I’m used to. It’s all about vision, about how you go about what you want to achieve. I’m determined to run that race.”