Instant analysis: Making sense of the biggest trade in Ravens history

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The Ravens have traded for Maxx Crosby, sending two first-round picks to the Raiders for the star edge rusher.

They had never traded a first-round pick for a veteran.

Meaning this is both the most dramatic and riskiest move of general manager Eric DeCosta’s career.

Here’s what The Banner’s staff thinks about the Friday night surprise.

The face of the Ravens’ defensive front

As the Los Angeles Chargers’ defensive coordinator, Jesse Minter had a tone-setter up front in Khalil Mack. In Baltimore it’ll be Maxx Crosby.

Crosby is the fire-breathing dragon Minter needs to play the kind of defense he wants. The five-time Pro Bowl defensive end never rests as a run defender and commands double teams as a pass rusher. When was the last time the Ravens had an edge rusher who inspired fear on third-and-long?

Minter has said he was looking for a new-age definition of what it meant to “play like a Raven.” Whatever he settles on, it’ll look pretty close to Crosby’s style.

— Jonas Shaffer, reporter

They’re all in — for real

For the Ravens to add a player like Maxx Crosby with such a large contract, they must have an idea of where they’re at, contract-wise, with Lamar Jackson and Nnamdi Madubuike. And the most likely reason they can afford Crosby is a Jackson extension rather than a restructure. After a season when Jackson’s dedication was thrown into question from OTAs to articles disparaging his character, agreeing to an extension to help create cap space should provide evidence he’s committed to winning. And he indicated he was all in on this trade with his mysterious “Boom” tweet Friday.

The trade, as my colleagues point out, is out of character for this front office. But so was firing John Harbaugh, who had been comfortable for 18 years. The Ravens like to build through the draft, and they don’t like to give up picks (and had never given up a first-rounder before). But this is a great sign that they realize sometimes you have to break from your ways if they’re not working. They have not hit on a true edge rusher in recent years. Acquiring a proven, if veteran, pass rusher means they’ll get an immediate boost and won’t have to see if Mike Green or some newly drafted player adjusts to the league. They may not admit there’s a Super Bowl window, but with Jackson hitting 30 next year, their chances of making it are lowering. Crosby helps strike while that window is wide open.

– Giana Han, reporter

A move so cool it’s hard to believe the Ravens did it

Hey, everyone, it’s official: The rager is in Owings Mills at the Castle. Bring the kegs, because this front office is getting wild tonight. Baltimore’s trade for Maxx Crosby is insanely out of character in the most thrilling way. Eric DeCosta finally addressed one of the franchise’s biggest weaknesses for years, securing an edge rusher who has averaged double-digit sacks over the last four seasons and is a force against the run. If this defensive line can return Travis Jones and Nnamdi Madubuike, it immediately becomes one of the most destructive fronts in the NFL.

There will be much discussion about the wisdom of packaging two first-rounders for Crosby, who will turn 29 in August, and it is honestly a lot for the Ravens, who habitually knock their first-round picks out of the park. But this move represents a desire to win a Super Bowl next year, in the heart of Lamar Jackson’s prime. Draft picks would help future teams. Maxx Crosby helps the Ravens win right now. With Jesse Minter at the helm and Kyle Hamilton in the secondary, this defense will be as hard to scheme against as Jackson and the offense. Put on the tunes — this party is just getting started.

– Kye Goon, columnist

Eric DeCosta’s boldest (or most panicked?) move

Well, it turns out Eric DeCosta’s seat was not merely warm; it was searing hot. Owner Steve Bisciotti must want a second Super Bowl more desperately than he let on because this trade — for as good as Maxx Crosby is — subverts the foundational team-building philosophies underpinning the way the Ravens have operated for so long. After too many years of hoping players along the line would become the dreamed-for versions of themselves, DeCosta went out and got a game changer. I can only imagine the look on his face when the Raiders said, “How about TWO firsts?” And yet he found a way to say yes. That almost certainly means Lamar Jackson has given the team a clear indication he will free up significant money. But I do wonder: Who is going to block for the QB if another defensive lineman is suddenly taking up 10% of the cap (as Nnamdi Madubuike already does)? Going to be an interesting few days as the rest of the puzzle comes together.

— Chris Korman, editor

A much-needed about-face

What an absolute shocker from Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta, who channeled his inner Les Snead and said “F them picks” to land a true force multiplier in Maxx Crosby. That’s never been the Ravens’ way, but it was painfully obvious this defense lacked any pass-rush juice, and opposing quarterbacks had ample time to pick apart the secondary. They’ve failed to find it in the draft in recent years. Odafe Oweh didn’t live up to the lofty expectations that came with his selection in the first round in 2021. David Ojabo didn’t pan out. Adisa Isaac has been derailed by injuries. Tavius Robinson is solid but far from a difference maker. And Mike Green showed flashes in his rookie season but is a work in progress.

Crosby instantly makes this a top-tier defensive front, particularly if Nnamdi Madubuike returns from a season-ending neck injury. And, wouldn’t you know it, we got IG footage of him working out in the gym just before this trade came down. There’s a lot of work to do to fix the interior offensive line — can Baltimore even afford to bring back Tyler Linderbaum now? — but a Lamar Jackson extension would go a long way to making that happen.

— Brandon Weigel, editor

This article has been updated to remove a reference to defensive end Aidan Hutchinson, who did not overlap with Jesse Minter at Michigan.