The Las Vegas Raiders find themselves in a difficult position after the Baltimore Ravens backed out of a trade for defensive end Maxx Crosby on Tuesday, but the path forward remains clear: keep shopping the star pass rusher.

The Ravens had agreed to send two first-round picks to the Raiders for Crosby, but the deal fell through after Crosby reportedly failed a physical. Given his extensive injury history — eight surgeries in seven seasons — the development was not entirely shocking.

Still, the Raiders should not let this setback deter them. The team made a splash in free agency on Monday, adding several new starters, but significant roster holes remain. Trading Crosby would bring in valuable draft assets to accelerate the rebuild.

“There is obviously only one answer to this for the Las Vegas Raiders: Forge ahead. Go back to teams that were interested,” the column states. “Heck. Maybe to even some that weren’t.”

The failed trade does not reflect poorly on the Raiders, as Baltimore knew about Crosby’s injury history. However, it may shift leverage to other interested teams, potentially lowering the return. The original offer of two first-rounders was likely the best available.

Complicating matters is the rift between Crosby and the organization. He was reportedly upset about being shut down for the final two games of the 2025 season due to injury, leading to months of friction despite public statements of support.

“Can you really bring him back when there has been some level of friction for months?” the column asks.

Crosby remains one of the franchise’s all-time greats and a community pillar through his foundation. But trading him is still the most logical move for both sides. The Raiders must exhaust all options to find a new trade partner before considering reconciliation.