The Athletic Football Show — March 8, 2026

Episode Title: Ravens Maxx Crosby trade highlights a busy weekend on the eve of free agency
Host: Robert Mays
Co-Hosts: Derrik Klassen, Dave Helman
Main Theme: Breaking down a flurry of major NFL roster moves—including the Ravens’ blockbuster Maxx Crosby trade—on the eve of free agency. The crew explores the motivations, ramifications, and context of these transactions, analyzing what they signal for teams’ roster-building philosophy and the upcoming market.

Episode Overview

In this special emergency episode, the Athletic Football Show crew reacts to a seismic weekend of NFL news that dramatically reshaped the free agency landscape. Headlined by the Baltimore Ravens’ blockbuster trade for edge rusher Maxx Crosby, the episode explores the implications and surprises of this deal, as well as a cascade of other notable roster moves: shifts in the edge and offensive line markets, contract extensions and trades, and how teams like the Eagles, Packers, Bills, Bears, Lions, and Rams are pivoting their off-season strategies. The conversation blends X's and O's analysis with a bigger-picture view of roster construction and league trends.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Ravens Trade for Maxx Crosby

(Starts ~01:27 – Main Segment until ~24:57)

• Trade Details: Ravens acquire Maxx Crosby from the Raiders for two first-round picks
• Motivation (Raiders’ Side):
  • Raiders are “resetting...trying to explore a different sort of reality” (Robert Mays, 01:58)
  • “It’s a lot to get for a 29-year-old player...We haven’t seen this sort of price tag for guys on third contracts.” (Mays, 01:59)
• Baltimore’s Perspective:
  • Major swing signaling urgency to maximize Lamar Jackson’s current window
  • “I don’t even want to say, like, pry their window open...but talk about a swing for the fences to get you excited about a new regime.” (Derrik Klassen, 04:26)
  • New regime, post–John Harbaugh, willing to take moves “to a completely different stratosphere.” (Classen, 07:00)
• Debate on Justification & Risk:
  • Is Baltimore closer to contention than it looked or reaching due to holes?
  • Mays: “It feels like them scrambling a little bit...That’s not even a criticism. I think it’s probably the right approach with where they are.” (08:00)
  • Historically, Ravens relied on “assembly line” mid-round edge talent—the well has “run dry.” (Mays, 07:18 and 08:53)
  • Ravens’ edge room: past philosophy of bigger, versatile players has shifted to speed/specialists, leading to lack of depth and urgent need for a true, all-phases edge
• Contract/Market Context:
  • “Two first-round picks...it’s almost exclusively second contract players that are star level guys...Max Crosby is going to be 29 years old.” (Mays, 11:03)
  • “The price is such a lofty price to pay...you’re raising the threshold that much higher.” (Classen, 13:47)
  • Dave: “Scared money don’t make money...when you have true field tilters like Roquan Smith, like Max Crosby, it just changes the math for you on defense.” (Hellman, 14:34)
• Team-Build Implications:
  • New look: Ravens risking top-heavy roster with multiple $25M+/year players
  • Mays: “This move specifically is pushing you in a slightly different direction...Now you’re at a place where this becomes very quickly a very top heavy football team.” (16:32)
• Notable Quotes:
  • “You are putting a huge amount of onus on Max Crosby to be that dude with a capital D.” (Classen, 13:57)
  • “Scared money don’t make money.” (Hellman, 14:34)
  • “We haven’t been drafting as well as the reputation suggests that we do.” (Hellman, paraphrasing, 15:39)
• Comparison to Dallas Cowboys’ handling of Micah Parsons:
  • Fit, cashflow, and locker room ‘culture-setter’ aspects weighed
  • “From people in our seats, we underrate how important it is...for the guys they pay the most amount of money to be the guys who set the culture.” (Mays, 21:01)
  • “Max Crosby is that sort of guy.” (Mays, 21:01)

2. Other Notable Edge Rusher Moves

(Khalil Mack to Chargers, 28:21–29:56)

• Khalil Mack re-signs with Chargers, 1-year, $18M
• “Chargers still a roster that is obviously going to be a playoff team...keeping the stable on defense, that’s a playoff team.” (Hellman, 28:54)
• Consensus it’s an unexciting but logical fit: “If he had gone to a different team, I would think it was very exciting. So, good for the Chargers even if it’s kind of anticlimactic…” (Mays, 29:32)

3. Interior Offensive Line Market Heats Up

(31:05–44:49)

Major Contracts:

• Conner McGovern returns to Bills: 4 years, $52M ($13M AAV)
  • “$13M a year for Conor McGovern is a healthy number as we kind of kick off the spending…” (Mays, 31:05)
  • Seen as a continuity/culture win; “Get your center to resign before you lose your two starters.” (Hellman, 31:17)
• Tyler Biadasz (Chargers): 3 years, $30M – “That was the sweet spot, man...an above-average starter for $10M, before market even opens...A win for the Chargers.” (Mays, 38:56)
• Sean Rhyan (Packers): 3 years, $33M (“first shot across the bow” for guards of average quality getting paid, 36:30)
• Garrett Bradbury (Bears): Acquired for a future fifth; “A serviceable guy with one year left on his deal...Not a bad bit of business for the Chicago Bears...” (Classen, 37:39)
• Discussion:
  • Interior OL contracts exceeding expectations; starter-level centers and versatile guards are highly valued
  • Bears’ strategy: Stop-gaps at several positions to avoid overpaying in a “bidding war market.” Taylor Decker as possible stopgap left tackle (Mays, 43:21)
• Notable Quotes:
  • “If they can somehow piece that together [find a decent left guard], that’s really now the only piece they’re turning over. An offense that was very good...now DJ Moore is in the fold.” (Mays on Buffalo, 35:11)

4. Linebacker Market & Stopgap Moves

(46:43–51:37)

• Justin Strnad re-signs with Broncos: 3 years, $18M
• Packers trade for Zaire Franklin (from Colts) [for Kobe Wooden]: 2 years, $15M remaining on existing deal
• “A really good hammer…Pretty nice to pair with Edgerrin Cooper, so I’m kind of into it as their best veteran answer to replacing Quay Walker.” (Hellman, 49:17)
• General theme: affordability and reliability at linebacker are at a premium in a market where upside guys are getting expensive.
• “I love a creative answer to a problem...Considering what I think Quay Walker’s going to be worth, trading a player for a guy who can play and occasionally at a high level...” (Classen, 50:13)

5. Defensive Line/Pass Rush Market: Eagles’ Big Move

(53:38–59:20)

• Jordan Davis contract extension: 3 years, $78M ($65M guaranteed)
  • “Only Chris Jones right now has a higher AAV among interior defensive linemen…” (Mays, 53:38)
  • “The biggest thing is, he was on the field more...” (Hellman, 54:44)
• Eagles’ Jalen Carter trade speculation:
  • Jordan Davis deal signals a possible Carter departure; “There clearly is some smoke here with Jalen Carter and how available he might be, and that throws a wrench into the interior DL market.” (Mays, 57:22)
• Davis’s Transformation:
  • “He’s just a monster now...He’s a svelte nose tackle, which isn’t supposed to happen. And he was phenomenal last year.” (Classen, 58:21)
  • “Peloton has to fold this into their marketing in some way.” (Mays, 59:13)

6. Rams Secure Secondary: Cam Curl Extension

(59:31–61:52)

• Cam Curl re-signs: 3 yrs, $36M, $24M guaranteed
• Safety market “hard to pin down,” Curl’s deal ($12M/y) likely to set the market for others (Classen, 60:42)
• Rams secondary now includes Curl, Quinton Lake, Trent McDuffie; team praised for flexibility and shoring up holes before camp.

7. Miscellaneous: Kicker Contracts & Personal Anecdotes

(61:52–67:54)

• Eddie Pineiro (49ers): 4 years, $17M; crew jokes about teams overcommitting to kickers after bad experiences (Classen, 62:26)
• Host Hair Debates:
  • Mays shares his decision to shave his head, becoming a running joke for making bold, occasionally impulsive choices—paralleled with Ravens’ risk-taking (67:40).
  • “Sometimes you're pushed into a place of desperation...Me with my hair, the Ravens trading for Maxx Crosby...” (Mays, 67:40)

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• On the Ravens/Crosby trade:

  • “You're putting a huge amount of onus on Max Crosby to be that dude with a capital D.” — Derek Classen, 13:57
  • “Scared money don’t make money...when you have true field tilters...it changes the math for you on defense.” — Dave Hellman, 14:34
  • “This move specifically is pushing you in a slightly different direction...Now you’re at a place where this becomes very quickly, very top heavy football team.” — Robert Mays, 16:32

• On market realities:

  • “If they can somehow piece that together [left guard solution], that’s really now the only piece they’re turning over...DJ Moore is in the fold.” — Robert Mays, 35:11
  • “If you can chew gum and block someone at the same time, they’re going to be getting way more money than you probably think.” — Robert Mays, 36:30

• On the Eagles moves:

  • “[Jordan Davis is] just a monster now...He’s a svelte nose tackle, which isn’t supposed to happen. And he was phenomenal last year.” — Derek Classen, 58:21
  • “Peloton has to fold this into their marketing in some way.” — Robert Mays, 59:13

• On Packers/Colts linebacker trade:

  • “I think it’s great...trading a player for a guy who can play and occasionally at a high level. We'll see what's around him...” — Derek Classen, 50:13

Important Timestamps

• 01:27 — Show proper starts, Crosby trade breakdown
• 04:26 — Ravens urgency and window for contention
• 07:18 — Baltimore’s edge talent pipeline analysis
• 11:03 — Historic context for two-first-round-pick trades
• 14:34 — Dave’s “Scared money don’t make money” team-building stance
• 16:32 — Discussion of Baltimore’s top-heavy roster
• 21:01 — Locker room/culture setters in top-dollar contracts
• 29:08 — Khalil Mack returns to Chargers
• 31:05 — Conor McGovern re-signs with Bills; IOL market analysis
• 37:39 — Bears’ smart trade for Garrett Bradbury
• 43:21 — Bears’ likely stopgap approach at tackle with Taylor Decker possibility
• 46:43 — Taylor Decker’s likely market as a stopgap LT
• 47:52 — Broncos re-signing of Justin Strnad
• 49:17 — Packers trade for Zaire Franklin
• 53:38 — Jordan Davis extension/impact
• 57:22 — Eagles’ handling of Jalen Carter trade rumors
• 59:31 — Cam Curl returns to Rams; secondary strategy
• 62:26 — Niners sign Pineiro; kicker contract debate
• 64:01 — Host hair reveal and parallels to team decision-making
• 67:40 — Mays: “Sometimes you're pushed into a place of desperation...”

Summary Table of Major Moves Discussed

| Team | Move | Details | Significance | |-----------------------|------|---------|--------------| | Ravens | Acquire DE Maxx Crosby | 2x 1st rounders to Raiders | Aggressive, window-maximizing (01:27) | | Chargers | Re-sign EDGE Khalil Mack | 1 year, $18M | Stable playoff push (28:54) | | Bills | Re-sign C Conor McGovern | 4 years, $52M | O-line continuity (31:05) | | Packers | Sign G/C Sean Rhyan | 3 years, $33M | Expanding OL salaries (36:30) | | Bears | Acquire C Garrett Bradbury | 1 year, $5.7M cap | Stopgap, avoid market (37:39) | | Broncos | Re-sign LB Justin Strnad | 3 years, $18M | Covering depth/insurance (46:43) | | Packers | Trade for LB Zaire Franklin | From Colts | Value starter, cap control (49:17) | | Eagles | Extend DT Jordan Davis | 3 years, $78M, $65M gte | D-line future, Carter? (53:38) | | Rams | Re-sign S Cam Curl | 3 years, $36M | Secondary stability (59:31) | | 49ers | Sign K Eddie Pineiro | 4 years, $17M | Kicker market quip (62:26) |

Final Takeaways

• The Weekend’s News: Uncommonly aggressive for this stage of the offseason, with teams acting with urgency in aging/expiring windows (Baltimore, LA).
• Team-building Trends: Franchises willing to get top-heavy and use future capital to acquire reliable stars; positional spending trending up, especially for interior linemen and solid linebackers.
• Risks/Cultural Factors: Locker room tone-setters matter as much as on-field ability in justifying major outlays (Crosby vs. Parsons).
• Market Dynamics: Free agency is inflating “pretty good starter” prices at IOL, LB, and safety, forcing smart teams to act early or seek stopgaps.
• Undercurrents: The episode closes with lighter commentary on risk tolerance in both sports and personal style, with recurring metaphors—“Sometimes you’re pushed into a place of desperation...”—linking the Ravens’ and hosts’ real-life decisions.

For more detailed breakdowns, witty debate, and X’s and O’s analysis on all major roster moves, listen to “The Athletic Football Show.”