It’s been quite the 24 hours for the Baltimore Ravens.

On Tuesday, the Las Vegas Raiders broke the stunning news that Baltimore “backed out” of the agreed trade for star edge rusher Maxx Crosby. Plenty of backlash and conspiracy theories followed in the aftermath.

Early Wednesday morning, Baltimore reportedly agreed to a four-year deal worth up to $120 million for Trey Hendrickson, formerly of AFC North rivals Cincinnati.

Later in the day Wednesday, general manager Eric DeCosta held a media session that lasted over 18 minutes, mostly discussing the Ravens’ decision to pivot from Crosby. Trades are contingent on players passing a physical, so Baltimore was within its right to step away a day before the new league year began.

DeCosta did not specify details from Crosby’s physical, but clarified he’s also just as disappointed.

“We were really excited about potentially adding Maxx,” DeCosta said. “Nobody is more disappointed than me, [he’s] a player I greatly admire.

“I know our fans are upset and devastated, I understand that. Tough, tough situation. But I think for the Ravens, the right situation. My role as GM, and Jesse [Minter’s] role as head coach, and Sashi [Brown’s] role as president, stewards of the organization, we have to make tough calls, and this was certainly a tough call to make.”

DeCosta added that the plan was to pair both Crosby and Hendrickson after star center Tyler Lindbaum agreed to join Las Vegas. He denied the reports of the Ravens having cold feet in regards to backing out of the Crosby agreement.

“I understand it,” DeCosta said. “We live in that age of skepticism, and people question things, especially people that don’t really know me or know the Ravens culture and the Ravens organization.

“As I said at the beginning, we’ve got a responsibility – I’ve got a responsibility – to the Ravens, to this community, to our fans and to [owner] Steve Bisciotti to do what we think is best for the club. Nobody is more upset about this than me. I am gutted by it, actually… But, we will move on as a football team.”

Because of the rarity of a team backing out of a trade last minute, a deal which included Las Vegas getting two future first-round picks (this year’s No. 14 and one in 2027), DeCosta disagreed with the notion that Baltimore’s reputation took a dent for future major moves.

“It hasn’t stopped my phone from ringing, I’ll tell you that,” DeCosta said. “I think our relationship with agents and with other teams is really, really good. I think that GMs understand the importance of getting as much information as possible before making decisions.

“Everybody that works with agents would say that we’re a class organization that does business the right way, respectful and willing to get deals done.”

Crosby had posted a 13-minute long farewell video on social media a few days after the reported agreement, thanking the Raiders for the memories since they drafted him in 2019.

“I’m going there with one purpose, and that’s to help this team get to where it ultimately needs to be and where everybody wants to go, and that’s winning the Super Bowl,” Crosby said on the now failed Baltimore move. “I know it’s going to be very difficult. I know there’s no guarantees in this, but I’m going to give everything in my heart and soul to bring a championship to Baltimore.”

It might sound awkward to return now after how everything unfolded, but the Raiders’ cap situation means it can still afford Crosby’s contract, as well as the several deals they agreed to in free agency, including Lindbaum and linebackers Quay Walker and Nakobe Dean, among others.

It remains to be seen if Crosby will stay a Raider, but with more teams pivoting to other options or now no longer willing to cough up two first-rounders for a player coming off knee surgery, it’s likely he stays a member of the silver and black for longer.