The Baltimore Ravens have unexpectedly backed out of a blockbuster trade to acquire five-time Pro Bowl defensive end Maxx Crosby from the Las Vegas Raiders.
The dramatic collapse of the deal was announced by the AFC West franchise on Tuesday night, just hours before it was due to become official.
Initial reports on Friday suggested the proposed agreement involved sending first-round draft picks in 2026 and 2027 to Nevada in exchange for the prized defensive asset.
Deal collapses before new league year
The highly anticipated transaction was scheduled to be formally completed at the start of the new National Football League year on Wednesday.
No further details or explanations were provided by either organisation regarding the sudden breakdown of the move.
This abrupt cancellation means the elite pass rusher will remain in Las Vegas, where he has established himself as one of the most fearsome defenders in the sport.
‘Zero ill will’ from star defender
Prior to the trade falling through, the dominant edge rusher had already addressed his impending departure in a poignant social media video released on Saturday.
“I have zero ill will toward the Raiders and hope to retire with the organisation when the time comes.”
It now appears the defensive talisman will immediately get his wish to continue his career in silver and black.
Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III has agreed to join the Kansas City Chiefs as the 2026 NFL free agency period opens with a flurry of major running back moves.
The highly sought-after rusher arrives in Missouri following a stellar campaign where he recorded the second 1,000-yard season of his four-year professional career.
His addition addresses a critical area of need for a franchise attempting to rebound from a highly disappointing 6-11 record in 2025.
The Chiefs have not featured a 1,000-yard rusher since Kareem Hunt achieved the feat nine years ago.
Kansas City are also anticipating the return of star quarterback Patrick Mahomes from a knee injury in September, providing hope for a revitalised offence.
Dowdle heads to Pittsburgh
In another significant backfield shift, Rico Dowdle has agreed to a two-year contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The dynamic runner is expected to bring a decisive, straight-line rushing style to Mike McCarthy’s newly reshaped squad.
Dowdle previously enjoyed a breakout stretch with the Carolina Panthers, proving his capability as a versatile offensive weapon in both the running and passing games.
He will likely form a formidable split-backfield partnership alongside Jaylen Warren in Pennsylvania.
Etienne swaps Jacksonville for New Orleans
Meanwhile, the New Orleans Saints have bolstered their offensive arsenal by acquiring 27-year-old Travis Etienne Jr.
The former Jacksonville Jaguar finished the 2025 season as a top-tier running back, regaining much of the elite volume he demonstrated in 2023.
His arrival adds immediate pedigree and top-end speed to a Saints rushing attack looking to dominate the upcoming campaign.
Atlanta Falcons linebacker James Pearce Jr was the subject of at least seven 911 calls in the weeks leading up to his recent arrest for felony battery and stalking.
The emergency calls indicated heightened fears from an unidentified ex-girlfriend that she was being stalked and harassed at her Florida residence.
These preliminary incidents culminated in early February when the defensive player allegedly rammed his vehicle into the car of WNBA player Rickea Jackson.
Jackson’s attorneys have subsequently filed a court notice confirming she is “willing to testify” against the athlete if the domestic violence charges proceed to trial.
Escalating domestic disturbance reports
Police officers were repeatedly dispatched to a Doral residence shared intermittently by the NFL player and his on-again, off-again partner between November and his eventual arrest.
During a visit on 28 January, the woman residing at the property reported a domestic disturbance and expressed fear after her front door was damaged.
According to the official police incident report, she decided to relocate to a hotel to avoid any further altercations.
Earlier that same day, law enforcement had responded to the property in emergency mode following reports of a daytime burglary in progress.
Previous interventions and financial disputes
Authorities had explicitly instructed the athlete to stay away from his ex-girlfriend’s home on 13 January.
Records detail another incident in late November following Atlanta’s game in New Orleans, where the woman refused to grant him entry after he repeatedly knocked and called her landline.
She alleged during that specific encounter that the primary purpose of his visit was to collect a $70,000 debt.
No arrests were made during any of these seven preliminary visits to the residence, as the subject consistently departed before officers arrived.
The Falcons have declined to comment on the situation, while representatives for both parties have not responded to external requests for a statement.
The Miami Dolphins have signed quarterback Malik Willis to a three-year contract worth $67.5m (£53m) just hours after officially releasing Tua Tagovailoa.
The lucrative agreement effectively crowns the former Green Bay Packers signal-caller as the franchise’s new starting quarterback for the upcoming season.
It marks a swift reunion for the 25-year-old, who joins first-year general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and head coach Jeff Hafley in Florida.
Both executives spent the past two seasons working closely with the athletic playmaker during their respective tenures in Wisconsin.
Replacing an established veteran
Miami’s need for a new field general became an immediate priority on Monday morning.
The AFC East franchise officially announced the departure of Tagovailoa, ending a notable and at times turbulent era in South Florida.
Sullivan had previously insisted on adding serious competition to the quarterback room ahead of the new campaign.
By striking early on the first day of the league’s negotiating period, the front office has removed any remaining guesswork from their offseason strategy.
High ceiling and dual-threat ability
The Dolphins hierarchy secured a player capable of stressing opposition defences with both his arm and his legs.
This dual-threat capability is a distinct trait that the Miami offence noticeably lacked during the previous regime.
Originally selected by the Tennessee Titans in the third round of the 2022 draft, the mobile quarterback initially struggled as a developmental project.
However, his career trajectory changed dramatically upon joining the Packers in 2024.
Flawless short-term audition
Stepping in for three crucial starts during his time in Green Bay, the revitalised passer threw for 612 yards and three touchdowns.
He maintained a spotless turnover record during that impressive stretch without throwing a single interception.
The dynamic runner also contributed significantly on the ground, adding a further 174 rushing yards and three touchdowns.
Hafley previously praised his new quarterback’s adaptability when operating as a scout-team player against the starting defence in Green Bay.
“Obviously him and I have a really good relationship, and he always did a really good job and gave us everything that we needed,” Hafley said.
Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III has agreed to sign with the Kansas City Chiefs following a historic championship-winning season with the Seattle Seahawks.
The 25-year-old running back departs the Pacific Northwest after capping his four-year tenure with an outstanding performance in Super Bowl LX.
He became the first player at his position to claim the prestigious MVP award since Terrell Davis achieved the feat 28 years ago.
Playoff dominance seals major move
The former Michigan State standout accumulated 161 yards on 29 touches during Seattle’s Super Bowl victory over the New England Patriots.
His postseason role expanded significantly after teammate Zach Charbonnet suffered a torn ACL in the divisional round.
Stepping up as the clear primary back, the explosive runner scored four touchdowns across three playoff games while amassing 417 scrimmage yards.
This late-season surge followed a regular campaign where he achieved career highs of 1,309 scrimmage yards and an average of 4.6 yards per carry.
Overcoming durability concerns
Earlier in his professional career, the second-round draft pick faced scrutiny over his durability after missing 10 games across the 2023 and 2024 seasons.
Oblique, calf, and ankle injuries had previously hampered his progression on the field.
However, an overhauled approach to his diet and sleep routines during the offseason resulted in a fully healthy contract year.
The reigning Super Bowl MVP played in all 20 games last season and did not miss a single practice following the start of the campaign.
Kansas City has now secured one of the league’s most dynamic playmakers, who boasts 34 runs of 20 or more yards since entering the league in 2022.
The Miami Dolphins have announced they will release quarterback Tua Tagovailoa at the start of the new NFL league year, incurring a record-breaking $99m salary cap hit.
A team statement released on Monday confirmed the departure of the left-handed quarterback, who was benched with three games remaining last season.
The move carries enormous financial implications for the Florida franchise, creating the largest dead money penalty in National Football League history.
By designating the departure as a post-June 1 transaction, the organisation will be able to split the unprecedented financial burden over two years.
Seeking a sustained winner
Miami general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan stated the decision is part of a broader strategy to revamp the squad and establish a stronger foundation.
“As we move forward, we will be focused on infusing competition across the roster and establishing a strong foundation for this team as we work towards building a sustained winner,” Sullivan said.
The strategic release designation means the team will absorb an estimated $67.4m dead salary cap hit during the 2026 season alone.
A challenging final campaign
The former first-round draft pick struggled to maintain consistency during his final campaign under center for Miami.
He recorded 20 passing touchdowns but also threw a career-high 15 interceptions across 14 appearances before ultimately losing his starting role.
This drastic roster move highlights the franchise’s urgent desire for stability and a fresh direction at the sport’s most important position.
The Las Vegas Raiders have agreed a trade to acquire veteran cornerback Taron Johnson from the Buffalo Bills in exchange for a late-round draft pick.
Las Vegas will send a sixth-round selection to New York State, receiving a seventh-round pick in addition to the 29-year-old defensive back.
Buffalo had initially announced the player’s impending release on Friday alongside three other squad members.
However, holding back the official transaction wire listing allowed general manager Brandon Beane to secure draft compensation.
A defensive shift in Buffalo
The departure comes as the AFC East franchise transitions to a drastically different defensive philosophy.
New coordinator Jim Leonhard is shifting the unit from a traditional 4-3 base to a 3-4 system.
This tactical adjustment made their long-standing starting nickel corner expendable, despite an impressive track record.
Since cementing his starting role in 2020, no NFL team has utilised nickel packages more frequently than Buffalo’s league-leading 83.4% usage rate.
Addressing a critical weakness
For Las Vegas, the acquisition immediately addresses a glaring vulnerability within their secondary.
The Nevada-based outfit severely lacked both top-tier talent and reliable depth at cornerback throughout the previous campaign.
Kyu Blu Kelly struggled significantly before suffering a season-ending knee injury, allowing a team-high 559 receiving yards on 56 targets.
Meanwhile, recent third-round pick Darien Porter showed flashes of potential across 10 starts but remains raw in his ongoing development.
Rebuilding the Raiders secondary
The former fourth-round draft pick brings considerable experience to his new environment, boasting 572 career tackles and eight forced fumbles.
He will long be celebrated in upstate New York for a memorable 101-yard interception return against the Baltimore Ravens in the 2020 postseason.
Alongside this new addition, the Raiders are actively exploring options to retain unrestricted free agent Eric Stokes.
Las Vegas general manager John Spytek confirmed last month that he is working closely on securing the 27-year-old’s future.
We have had good dialogue about a possible reunion and I would love for him to return.
John Spytek, Raiders general manager
The Baltimore Ravens have agreed a deal to acquire defensive end Maxx Crosby from the Las Vegas Raiders in exchange for two future first-round draft picks.
Las Vegas will receive first-round selections in 2026 and 2027 as part of the agreement.
Reports in the United States confirmed the deal was finalised on Friday night.
Statement intent from Baltimore
Crosby has established himself as one of the NFL’s premier pass rushers during his tenure in Nevada.
The five-time Pro Bowl selection adds elite disruptive capability to the Ravens’ defensive front.
Securing the defensive end represents a significant ‘all-in’ move by the AFC North franchise as they chase a Super Bowl title.
Rebuild mode for Las Vegas
For the Raiders, trading their franchise cornerstone signals a clear shift towards a long-term rebuilding strategy.
The acquisition of significant draft capital provides the organisation with flexibility to overhaul their roster in coming seasons.