It turns out that the Pittsburgh Steelers won't have to worry about facing Maxx Crosby twice a year with the Baltimore Ravens after all. They shocked the NFL world after pulling out of the trade, claiming the star pass rusher failed a physical. While he is still coming back from an injury, many around the NFL are suspicious.
Those concerns only heightened after they signed free agent Trey Hendrickson soon after dropping the trade for Crosby.
According to a new report from insider Jason La Canfora, several NFL general managers are furious about how the failed Crosby trade unfolded. Many believe the timing doesn’t add up, and they suspect something unusual happened behind the scenes. If the suspicions are accurate, it could spell trouble for the Steelers’ hated AFC North rivals.
"But the timing of the trade being called off irked the Raiders, according to multiple league sources, came as a shock to Crosby and his representatives and could severely damage the ability of Ravens embattled and struggling general manager, Eric DeCosta, to do business in the future," La Canfora wrote.
It appears Baltimore’s general manager, Eric DeCosta, may have landed himself in some hot water. The GM role comes with an expectation of mutual respect from the other 31 executives. Backing out of a major trade could damage Baltimore’s credibility and make future deals impossible to secure.
If the Ravens fall out of favor with other general managers, it could ultimately work to the Steelers’ advantage.
The Pittsburgh Steelers can't help but revel in the Ravens' failed Maxx Crosby Trade outcome
The ongoing rumor is that the Ravens were stunned by how many free agents they lost in such a short span. They had completed the Crosby trade before that wave of departures, and the sudden roster drain may have pushed DeCosta into feeling he had no choice but to back out of the deal.
Instead of giving up two first‑round picks for Crosby, Baltimore pivoted, added Hendrickson, and now has the draft capital to help replace the players they lost.
"Baltimore withdrawing from the transaction has major and immediate ramifications for them, " La Canfora claimed.
In his article, La Canfora shared several anonymous quotes from general managers around the league who are frustrated with how the failed Crosby trade unfolded. Many described the Ravens’ handling of the situation as bad business, and they believe it could come back to haunt Baltimore. By backing out of the deal, DeCosta may have created more enemies than allies.
Pittsburgh isn’t out of the woods yet when it comes to the Ravens’ efforts to take back the AFC North. Baltimore is still making smart moves this offseason, even though free agency has depleted parts of its roster. The Steelers, meanwhile, remain without a clear answer at quarterback—but at least they haven’t angered decision‑makers across the league.
For the Ravens, this situation could seriously hinder DeCosta’s ability to negotiate future deals.
Crosby not joining the Ravens is good news for the Steelers, but Baltimore adding Hendrickson isn’t exactly a relief. Pittsburgh has continued upgrading its roster while watching the Ravens deal with major losses in free agency.
How DeCosta and the Baltimore front office recover from this failed trade will be something to watch. If handled poorly, it could ignite serious questions moving forward.