Ex-NFL player and analyst Emmanuel Acho has suspected some foul business in the trade situation involving Las Vegas Raiders star defensive end Maxx Crosby. When the Baltimore Ravens walked away from a massive trade for Crosby, they said the reason was a failed physical. The reaction from the NFL community was swift and immediate.
Emmanuel Acho Suggests Ravens’ Handling of Maxx Crosby Was an ‘Intentional Hit Job’
Acho pulled no punches on what he thought of the surprising reversal of the trade deal. He suspected some foul business in the trade situation. On the late-night sports show “Speakeasy,” Acho didn’t hesitate to share his thoughts on the situation.
“Maxx should feel disgusted,” Acho said. “Not only should Maxx feel disgusted by what the Ravens did, … Maxx should feel disgusted by the intentional public hit job by so many reporters. Not just Rusini. This isn’t an attack on Rusini, but Schefter himself is also putting out, well, the Ravens wanted to acquire Hendrickson and Max Crosby.
“They’re saying that because subconsciously and subliminally they’re trying to infer that it is actually about the injury. ‘Hey, we wanted y’all both. It’s actually the injury that kept us from getting Max. We were gonna get Trey regardless.’ Let’s be for real. … I understand the concept of the Ravens are now trying to change the narrative.”
“Maxx should feel DISGUSTED…by the intentional public hit job by so many reporters”
– @EmmanuelAcho suspects there’s some foul business going on about Maxx Crosby’s trade situation
WE ARE LIVE RIGHT NOW AFTER MAXX’S AGENT SAYS “FAKE NEWS” ➡️ https://t.co/f4H3dQB55c pic.twitter.com/iH3BbYDBjN
— Speakeasy (@speakeasytlkshw) March 12, 2026
Acho also accused reporters Adam Schefter and Dianna Russini of The Athletic of repeating the Ravens’ position that they planned to acquire Crosby and Hendrickson. Acho refuted that on the show and added:
“The Ravens realized Trey Hendrickson is still available after day one and a half of free agency. We want the pass rusher that’s given 17 and a half sacks in back-to-back years just two and three years ago for cheaper, and we can keep our picks. That’s who we want.
“It is not about Maxx Crosby’s knee injury. You knew his knee injury. You knew he was hurt. So to me, Maxx should be disgusted. Not only because of what the Ravens did, but because of what reporters, and I believe the Ravens, are currently colluding to do.
Twenty-four hours after ending their agreement to trade for Crosby, a five-time Pro Bowl edge rusher, the Ravens signed Hendrickson, a four-time Pro Bowl former Cincinnati Bengals edge rusher, to a four-year, $112 million deal. According to PFSN’s Edge Impact Metric, Hendrickson earned an 86.4 impact score.
Hendrickson finished the 2025 season with 4.0 sacks, 8 quarterback hits, and 16 tackles. Crosby ranked No. 2 in the same metric with a 95.3 impact score, 10 sacks, 20 quarterback hits, and 45 solo tackles. Crosby remains under contract with the Raiders for four more years at $112.9 million.
Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta addressed the failed Crosby deal on Wednesday. As quoted by ESPN, DeCosta said, “Nobody’s more upset about this than me — gutted by it actually. And so a regret, a big regret for me, but we will move on as a football team.”
In addition to acquiring Hendrickson, the Ravens restructured quarterback Lamar Jackson’s contract before the start of the new league year on Wednesday. The move created nearly $40 million in cap space. Crosby, meanwhile, has reaffirmed his commitment to the Raiders, signaling that he will remain in black and silver for the 2026 season.
