On Friday night, things were looking smooth. The Baltimore Ravens looked set to be the landing spot for edge rusher Maxx Crosby. The Ravens looked loaded with talent, featuring players such as Crosby, quarterback Lamar Jackson, and safety Kyle Hamilton. However, the Ravens backed out of the trade, sparking discussion about Baltimore’s history.
Baltimore Ravens’ History of Failed Trade Physicals
The Ravens have done this before. As Jeff Zrebiec, senior staff writer for The Athletic Baltimore, put it, “This is not the first time a failed physical has scuttled a deal on the Ravens’ end.”
The most recent example happened in 2020. The Ravens were looking to sign defensive lineman Michael Brockers after a strong 2019 season, in which Jackson won MVP, and the team went 14-2. So, it made sense that the team would look to acquire any playmakers they could on the defensive front.
Up until this point, Brockers had a solid NFL career. While never posting monster numbers, Brockers was a key member of the Los Angeles Rams’ defense. Brockers was a tough, physical player who would have fit the Ravens perfectly.
The idea of Brockers going to the Ravens makes sense with how the team’s 2019 season ended. They lost in the Divisional Round to the Tennessee Titans and allowed the Titans’ running back, Derrick Henry, to rush for 195 yards. So, bringing in Brockers would have been a huge reinforcement for the defensive line.
This is not the first time a failed physical has scuttled a deal on the Ravens end. It happened in 2018 when the Ravens agreed to terms with FA WR Ryan Grant, but didn’t go through signing him because of an ankle issue. It happened again with Michael Brockers in 2020.
— Jeff Zrebiec (@jeffzrebiec) March 11, 2026
However, things did not work out, and it was largely the Ravens’ fault. According to an interview with Brockers, the Ravens believed he could no longer play due to an ankle injury he sustained. So, Brockers returned to the Rams, where he had a solid season, recording five sacks.
So in a way, the Ravens were wrong, but also right. After his time with the Rams in 2020, Brockers went to the Detroit Lions. In 2021, Brockers played well, but in 2022, he played only six games. That 2022 season would be his last in the NFL.
The other example is wide receiver Ryan Grant in 2018. With Washington, Grant was coming off his best season in 2017. In that season, Grant had 573 yards and four touchdowns. This was before the 2018 draft, when the Ravens’ quarterback was Joe Flacco.
Matching Grant, an up-and-comer, with the veteran Flacco could have been a nice fit for Baltimore; however, as Zrebiec put it, “it didn’t go through signing him because of an ankle issue.”
The oldest example is with safety Brock Marion. “1997, Baltimore backed out of a deal with Cowboys safety Marion minutes before he was going to sign a contract because the team discovered a potential problem with his left shoulder,” Adam Schefter tweeted.
However, this might not have been the best move, as Warren Sharp points out: “Brock Marion played all 16 games (100%) in 1997 after the Ravens failed him.” So, there is a chance that Crosby goes on to play for another team and plays very well.
So, if the Ravens backed out of the Crosby trade due to the physical, the history is there. However, some are saying this might not be the case. Edge rusher Trey Hendrickson is on the market, meaning the Ravens would have to sign him rather than trade for him.
However, even though both players are great, there is a gap according to PFSN’s edge impact metric. Crosby earned an A and ranked second, while Hendrickson earned a B and ranked 12th.
However, if the Ravens wanted to save draft capital, they could have canceled the trade. Whatever the reason, it is a shocking move by the Ravens.
