The Raiders’ latest cap maneuver didn’t come out of nowhere, but it did land with enough force to get Cowboys fans paying attention.
Las Vegas restructured the contracts of Quay Walker and Jalen Nailor, creating $8.2 million in cap space and pushing the team to just over $11 million in available room. On its own, that’s a routine front-office move. In the middle of all the Maxx Crosby trade chatter, though, it reads like something worth watching.
That’s because cap space matters at the exact moment a trade is completed. A team can’t just make the deal and sort out the money later.
It has to be able to absorb the player’s salary right then and there. So when the Raiders open up room, it naturally raises the question of whether they’re setting themselves up to take on another contract in a Crosby deal.
Dallas has already been working in that same lane. The Cowboys freed up $19 million by restructuring the contracts of Kenny Clark, Jake Ferguson, and DaRon Bland, giving them $33 million in cap room.
That puts them in position to handle Crosby’s $30 million salary. After the trade, the acquiring team could restructure Crosby’s deal down to $7 million, but not before the deal is done.
Jerry Jones has already made his stance clear: he’s willing to move future draft capital for an impact player. And Dallas isn’t necessarily limited to picks if Crosby ever becomes truly available. The Cowboys reportedly included Osa Odighizuwa in at least one offer for Crosby back in March, which shows this front office is open to putting real players on the table to get a blockbuster done.
If Las Vegas is looking to take back a player along with a pick, a few names stand out financially. Malik Hooker and Rashan Gary are among the players the Raiders could now afford, and Donovan Ezeiruaku could also be of interest.
Before the restructures, the Raiders had a shade over $3 million in cap room. Now they have enough flexibility to absorb another contract and still keep some cushion, which matters because teams like to leave room for injuries and roster moves during the season.
Of course, that doesn’t prove anything is happening behind the curtain in Las Vegas. The Raiders could just as easily be setting themselves up for a free-agent addition. Their roster needs help in plenty of places, and the new cap room means they wouldn’t have to wipe out all their flexibility just to sign someone at the veteran minimum.
There’s also another possibility: general manager John Spytek could simply be thinking ahead and rolling over cap space into 2027. The Raiders are projected to have $68 million in cap room next season, per Over The Cap, and there’s nothing stopping them from getting a head start on that buildup now.
So no, the restructures don’t confirm a Crosby move. But they do give the Raiders options, and when Crosby speculation is already running hot, that alone is enough to make Dallas fans look twice.
In Other News...
Cowboys Suddenly Have A Joe Milton Problem They Cant Ignore
Sam Darnolds early exit in Seattles opener instantly turned a backup situation into a storyline worth watching, but it also put a familiar name back into circulation around the league. Joe Milton III, who is on the Cowboys practice squad, has already made himself interesting enough this summer to draw outside attention, thanks to the way he flashed in preseason action and reminded teams around the NFL that a high-upside quarterback can quickly become a talking point.
For Dallas, that is where the discomfort begins. The Seahawks are expected to stay the course with their current quarterbacks, and Darnolds hip injury is not expected to send him to injured reserve, but any quarterback injury in September tends to sharpen the market for depth. If another team decides it needs a live arm, the Cowboys could suddenly find themselves in the position every front office tries to avoid: protecting a developmental quarterback who has become more visible than they probably wanted. [Read more 🡒]
Cowboys Suddenly Have A New Running Back Depth Concern
The Cowboys left practice with a fresh concern in the backfield after Malik Davis had to be carted off the field during the teams final workout of the week. Dallas has been able to lean on its running back depth throughout camp, but any injury at this point of the week gets attention fast, especially for a player whose role can shift quickly depending on health and game plan.
The team has other backs on the roster and practice squad who could be asked to handle the load if Davis is not available, but the bigger issue now is simply waiting to learn what happened. His status for the upcoming game is unclear, and until the Cowboys get more information, they will have one more spot in the offense to monitor closely. [Read more 🡒]
Cowboys Suddenly Have The Flexibility For A Bigger Defensive Move
The Cowboys have quietly created a lot more room to work with after restructuring contracts for Kenny Clark, DaRon Bland and Jake Ferguson, moves that opened up roughly $19 million in salary cap space. Add in the extension for backup tight end Brevyn Spann-Ford and the one-year, $6 million deal with receiver Ryan Flournoy, and Dallas suddenly has a healthier financial picture than it did just days ago.
That matters because the Cowboys are now sitting on around $35 million in cap space, which gives them flexibility to stay active if a bigger defensive opportunity surfaces. There has already been some speculation about possible targets down the road, including names such as Maxx Crosby and Joey Porter Jr., but for now Dallas has only set the table. The next move, if there is one, is still waiting to reveal itself. [Read more 🡒]