The Cowboys spent the offseason trying to rebuild the defense in a hurry, and now one more bold swing is being floated before the season even settles in. Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox sees Dallas as a team that could still make a major move, with Maxx Crosby as the prize and Rashan Gary as the piece heading the other way.
That would be a serious jolt for a roster that already made several notable defensive additions. Dallas traded for Dee Winters to strengthen the linebacking group, added Gary and Von Miller to the pass rush, and drafted Caleb Downs as a potential future difference-maker in the secondary. Even with those moves in place, Knox thinks the Cowboys may not be done.
“The Dallas Cowboys have taken an aggressive approach to rebuilding their defense this offseason, and franchise owner Jerry Jones has stated (in July) that he may not be finished making moves,” Knox wrote last Friday.
Knox also made clear that another push for Crosby would not come out of nowhere. Dallas already has Miller in the mix, but the idea is that the Cowboys could circle back if the season points them toward a real playoff run.
“While the Cowboys have since added Von Miller to their pass-rushing rotation, it wouldn't be a shock to see them make another run at Crosby closer to the trade deadline,” Knox wrote last Friday.
The proposed deal Knox laid out is a big one: two future first-round picks, plus Gary, for Crosby before the Nov. 10 trade deadline. He framed it as the kind of all-in move Jerry Jones could embrace if the team is in position to chase a title.
“If Dallas looks like a formidable playoff contender by November, trading valuable draft capital (two future first round picks)-along with a proven player like Rashan Gary, who was acquired via trade early in the offseason-to get Crosby could be the sort of all-in move that Jones believes will get him to the Super Bowl.”
Crosby’s name has already been tied to trade speculation after a failed deal with the Baltimore Ravens in early March, and that only adds fuel to the possibility. Dallas has been looking for a defender who can wreck a game on his own - someone who can win one-on-one, fight through double teams, and keep coming snap after snap.
The Cowboys’ pass rush is in a better place now than it was earlier in the offseason, but Knox’s point is simple: Crosby would be the kind of midseason addition that could push them into true contender territory.
The 29-year-old finished the 2026-27 campaign with 73 tackles, 10 sacks, and one interception in 15 games for a Raiders team that struggled throughout the year. If Las Vegas opens the new season slowly and decides to reset, Dallas could be right there asking about Crosby.
In Other News...
George Pickens Just Changed A Bigger Cowboys Roster Debate
George Pickens has quickly become more than just a useful addition for Dallas - he is now part of the franchises bigger long-term planning. Jerry Jones sounded upbeat about Pickens place with the Cowboys in the years ahead, and the message from the organization is clear enough: they want to keep him around well beyond the 2026 season if they can make it work.
The wrinkle, of course, is money. Dallas is already juggling the kind of salary commitments that make every future decision harder, and there is no confirmed multi-year extension in place yet for Pickens. If the Cowboys decide he is a player they cannot let walk, they may have to lean on the franchise tag again, which only adds another layer to an already crowded roster debate. [Read more 🡒]
Cowboys Backup QB Decision Just Got A Lot More Interesting
The Cowboys quarterback room took a surprising turn when Joe Milton was waived after Dallas initially carried two passers on its 53-man roster, a move that opened the door for a third running back instead. Head coach Brian Schottenheimer addressed the decision, and Milton later acknowledged he was caught off guard, even as the team brought him back on the practice squad.
What makes the move notable is how tight the battle appeared to be between Milton and Sam Howell. The competition was close enough that experience likely became the separating factor in the final roster call, leaving Dallas with a clearer pecking order for now but an intriguing backup picture still worth watching. [Read more 🡒]
Cowboys History Gives No. 64 More Respect Than Most Fans Realize
Jersey No. 64 does not usually jump out in Cowboys lore, but the history behind it is deeper than most fans might expect. Of the players who wore it in Dallas, Tom Rafferty stands above the rest, remembered less for flash than for the kind of steady work that helped shape a winning team. He spent 14 seasons with the Cowboys, became a fixture on the offensive line and was part of a group that reached the top of the sport.
Raffertys case is built on durability and versatility, the traits that keep an offensive line intact over time even when they rarely earn the loudest recognition. He played in 203 regular-season games and 18 postseason games, and while he never picked up Pro Bowl or All-Pro honors with Dallas, his value showed up in the kind of success the Cowboys were chasing all along, including a Super Bowl title. [Read more 🡒]