A Maxx Crosby-to-Cowboys trade never got off the ground this offseason, but the idea hasn’t gone away.
Dallas was in the mix when the Raiders entertained the possibility of moving Crosby, and the Cowboys reportedly put together a competitive offer. Baltimore ultimately topped it with two first-round picks, only for the deal to fall apart when Crosby failed his physical because of a knee injury. By then, Dallas had already pivoted and brought in Rashan Gary.
The Raiders have since repaired things with Crosby. He has been cleared and is back on the practice field, and the team says it wants him as part of its future. Still, the trade chatter hasn’t disappeared, and Mike Florio is one of the voices who thinks Crosby could still be dealt down the line.
Florio doesn’t see that happening before the season. In his view, Las Vegas is more likely to start 2026 with Crosby on the roster and then reassess if the year goes sideways. If the Raiders stumble early, he believes they could decide to move him to a contender rather than let the situation drag on.
"Not necessarily before the season, but once the season starts, if the Raiders struggle. Because they've already stretched the rubber band to the point of trading him.
And that was at a time when people were concerned about the health of his knee. He's cleared.
He's back. Now, whether he's got five more years in that knee is a different issue.
But, if they aren't playing well and they understand that Maxx Crosby isn't going to be part of the long-term solution and they could get value for him."
Florio also pointed to the NFL trade deadline, the Tuesday after Week 9, as the point to watch. That’s where he sees Dallas potentially making its move, especially after the Cowboys made clear they’d be willing to part with future assets to help win now.
"I can see a team like the Cowboys. They've already talked about giving up future assets to improve their defense.
And there was talk that they were thinking about making a play for Maxx Crosby back in March when the Ravens did. It would not surprise me if the Cowboys contend, the Raiders don't, Crosby gets traded to Dallas."
Crosby has also been in the news for a practice altercation with quarterback Kirk Cousins. The two got into a "scuffle" after Cousins took issue with Crosby’s physical style, and although no punches were thrown, both players were held out of practice for one day.
That’s Crosby in a nutshell: relentless, physical, and impossible to ignore. It helps him on Sundays, and it also keeps him at the center of speculation whenever the Raiders’ direction comes into question.
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