The Baltimore Ravens trading two first-round picks for Maxx Crosby was clearly done with the goal of winning the Super Bowl in mind. Other teams may have balked at this price, but Crosby is one of the game's best edge rushers, and the upside of this trade is something the Ravens couldn't pass up on.
In the past three years, Crosby racked up 32 sacks and 114 pressures. Furthermore, he is a five-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro second-team member. The fact that Crosby did this on a Las Vegas Raiders team that lacks talent can't be understated. Even with Crosby, the Raiders ranked in the bottom 10 in pressures and points allowed last season, and this was a consistent trend during his seven-year tenure with the Raiders.
As such, it's fair to expect Crosby to reach another level on a more talented Ravens squad. This possibility should strike fear into the hearts of rival fans and inject hope into Ravens fans.
Maxx Crosby could become even better with the Baltimore Ravens
There's no denying that the Ravens pass rush was unproductive last season; they ranked in the bottom five for both sacks and pressure rate. At the same time, with Roquan Smith, Travis Jones, a second-year Mike Green, and a budding Tavius Robinson, this is a talented group. Plus, if you factor in Nnamdi Madubuike's possible return and Jesse Minter's new system, this group is a terrifying sight for opposing offenses.
The Raiders simply don't have this level of supporting talent, which allowed opponents to devote nearly all of their attention to Crosby. As evidenced by his production, this didn't matter. However, the thought that Crosby could produce even more while receiving slightly less attention is tantalizing for Ravens fans.
Of course, an edge rusher as gifted as Crosby will always command a sizable amount of attention from opposing offenses. Nevertheless, the Ravens' surrounding talent will dictate that this won't be the case as often, which will undoubtedly open up more opportunities for Mad Maxx. The flip side is that Crosby's gravity will also free up his teammates.
The possibility of Crosby leveling up could help the Ravens surge back to their elite defensive standards and ultimately reach their Super Bowl aspirations.
All in all, Crosby projects to be a transformational presence for the Ravens. With all eyes on the prize of a Super Bowl, an already elite edge rusher reaching yet another level could prove to be the missing piece for Baltimore.
I know expectations have been high in the past, but this year feels different, and after trading for Crosby, Ravens fans should be enthusiastic about the team's Super Bowl chances.