NFL News Maxx Crosby to Ravens (Update - Ravens Backing Out of the Deal)

Thunderhead said:

Ravens should be the favorite out of the AFC for the next couple years. Steep price to pay, but worth it if they win a SB.

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Brady fleeced them and the Ravens wont sniff a Super Bowl anytime soon.

Sorry but he's not worth that and the $30m

upstater1 said:

But the #1 weakness for the Ravens last year was a complete lack of pass rush. This pushes them ahead of every other contender next year: Patriots, Bills, Broncos, Texans. Outliers: Jaguars, Bengals, Chargers.

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Until the playoffs.

Joey007 said:

Yeah. He’ll be awesome the next couple years, but he’s 30 in another year. Ravens have some holes to fill elsewhere as well. Definitely a gamble for them

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That's a now or never move by the Ravens. Good trade b Vegas, two firsts the next 2 years will really give them an opportunity to improve.

DoubleDeluxe said:

Curious what their cap situation is now.
Could take them out of the Linderbaum running?

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I think they had already ruled out re-signing Lindebaum.

Glad the Bills get the Ravens and we get the Steelers. This trade might help us win the division.

I wonder who Alex Guerrero will use these picks on.

way too much. thank god we didn’t do this

RxJock1120 said:

Looks like Raiders traded Crosby to Ravens for 2 first rounders. Link to follow.

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He is an amazing player and a force but not sure I would have wanted the Pats to give up 2 first rounders for him….

Guerrero will be very busy on draft day in his war room.

stcjones said:

He is an amazing player and a force but not sure I would have wanted the Pats to give up 2 first rounders for him….

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Me neither. Crosby is AMAZING, but trading 2 first rounders could have really set the Pats back. Especially if Crosby plays anywhere below an all-pro level for the next 3 years.

will he make an impact in Baltimore ?

He instantly becomes the best dl/edge they have, but will his presence make that much of a difference?

Think the ravens would gave been better off targeting an Edge rusher in the draft for that compensation... could have gotten into the top 5 of the draft and taken a top flight prospect for those two picks... then spent the money (again) on an over the hill WR in FA, like Reek... he'd fit right in there...

Pape said:

will he make an impact in Baltimore ?

He instantly becomes the best dl/edge they have, but will his presence make that much of a difference?

Think the ravens would gave been better off targeting an Edge rusher in the draft for that compensation... could have gotten into the top 5 of the draft and taken a top flight prospect for those two picks... then spent the money (again) on an over the hill WR in FA, like Reek... he'd fit right in there...

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The Ravens had the most dominant defense in the NFL in 2023, they had a massive overpowering offensive line, they had good weapons across the board.

They’ll never win a ring. Lamar is a poison pill. Without his legs he is Brian Hoyer with fumbling issues.

Wozzy said:

The Ravens had the most dominant defense in the NFL in 2023,

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I don't see this move re-creating that... They should win their division though, so thats a checkmark in the "good move" box... but then again the rest of the division is floundering, so i think we uncheck that box for now...

Just seems like a waste of resources to me... two years ago? good move... now, its eh, why?

Pape said:

I don't see this move re-creating that... They should win their division though, so thats a checkmark in the "good move" box... but then again the rest of the division is floundering, so i think we uncheck that box for now...

Just seems like a waste of resources to me... two years ago? good move... now, its eh, why?

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It is a waste. Harbaugh never would have done this, the wheels will slowly come off the Ravens without him. He was the football brain of the operation.

borg said:

Guerrero will be very busy on draft day in his war room.

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Beet juice and ginseng smoothies for everyone.

Good addition for Baltimore. But the price was too high and it won’t be enough to win it all.

Pape said:

will he make an impact in Baltimore ?

He instantly becomes the best dl/edge they have, but will his presence make that much of a difference?

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He'll make an impact. He still has a quick step and has a high motor. I do question if he's lost a bit though.

I did go and watch his game against the Colts (PFF has as an average game for him) and his game against the Bears (PFF highest rated game) and he made plays, but he wasn't Myles Garrett in the pass rush. Braden Smith with the Colts handled him pretty well. Even the Bears tackle only got beat once around the edge but was just a pressure, not a sack.

The 3 times TE Cole Kmet tried to block him, were the 3 plays he got in the backfield for impactful plays. His other play vs Bears was a tip at the line for a pick. Against the Colts he had 1 play he split the tackle and guard. Granted many plays he was chipped but 1 on 1 the Tackles were fine against him.

His 10 sacks are below. Unlike Garrett who has the Euro step, swim move, etc, most of his sacks come from quickness around the edge and the fact he never quits on a play. You think that might slow down as you age.

His Sacks:

-Drake Maye scramble Crosby was actually in coverage and a no gain out of bounds run
-Unblocked on read option
-Got around JC Latham for Sack though Ward backed up due to internal pressure
-Got around JC Latham for Sack though Ward took a 10 yard drop
-Beat Jags Walker Little around end and chased scrambling Lawrence (part coverage sack)
-Prescott took 4.78 seconds to try to throw, eventually very slow developing stunt when rushing 6 got sack fumble
-Beat Trey Pipkins (Chargers) around edge with the best timing of a snap I've ever seen.
-Herbert moved up in pocket avoiding DL rush up middle, Crosby came off Pipkins to get him from behind
-Bo Nix tried to scramble, ran into his own lineman, fell down and Crosby tagged him
-Red Zone sack on Hurts around Fred Johnson, Hurtz held ball for 4 seconds, Crosby got around the outside

Would have been happy if the Pats traded for him, but not upset they didn't. Edge rusher is the Pats' biggest need. So I just want an upgrade. Crosby would have been the most talented upgrade, but there are other options.

Shocked he didn't end up in Chicago. All signs pointed to him going there.

I get why the Ravens are doing this. Their window may closing on the Lamar Jackson era. He likely isn't going to be a QB who will be elite into his late 30s. Without the threat of his running, I don't he is nearly as good of a passer as he is. Plus he has an injury history that is likely only to get worse as he gets older. They may only have 2-3 years left of elite Lamar.

The price does seem high, especially the cap consequences. But I would note that for nine of the past TEN years the Rams have been proving that you can field a competitive team WITHOUT having a #1 pick in the draft. Maybe that philosophy is starting to filter down to other teams.

The problem I have for Baltimore is that as good as he is, he is just ONE player, and football is a numbers game. You need LOTS of good players to survive the war of attrition that is an NFL season. IIRC the Ravens are currently over the cap. I'm sure they can kick the can down the road and create the room they need to absorb the $30+MM cap cost Crosby will bring. But that cost eventually comes due, despite what Felger says. They strengthen their DL enormously, but they likely will weaken their offense when they can't resign Linderbaum and Likely.

Monday is going to be a VERY interesting day. In fact, the whole week will be a great football talk discussion party second only to draft week. I'm looking forward to it.