The Maxx Crosby-to-Dallas chatter isn’t going anywhere, and Week 1 only turned the volume up.
Crosby turned in 1.5 sacks in the Raiders’ win over the Miami Dolphins, a performance that should quiet any lingering concern about the knee issue tied to his offseason trade saga. It also puts the Cowboys right back in the middle of the conversation, especially after their ugly defensive showing in their opener and their previous pursuit of Crosby this offseason.
Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox recently slotted Dallas in as a possible landing spot on his NFL trade big board, and he pointed out that the Raiders remain in rebuilding mode despite opening 1-0. Knox also tied the situation to Dallas’ own roster-building path, noting the Cowboys moved a star pass-rusher as part of their rebuild.
“Moving a pass rusher like Crosby can help jump-start a rebuild, a reality that the Browns and Dallas Cowboys recently realized. The Raiders have realized it as well, as they would have already traded Crosby if the Ravens hadn't backed out of the deal,” Knox wrote.
“Expect teams that need pass-rushing help to make more offers to acquire Crosby before the trade deadline passes.”
Dallas did use the Micah Parsons trade to reshape its defense, landing defensive tackles Kenny Clark and Quinnen Williams along with rookie EDGE Malachi Lawrence. The Cowboys also added Caleb Downs, Rashan Gary and Von Miller. Even with that group, though, the defense was a mess against the Giants, and Crosby would be the kind of game-changer that makes sense on paper.
The problem is the price. Baltimore’s original offer for Crosby was two first-round picks, and Knox believes that remains his market value.
That leaves Dallas with a real question: is Crosby worth sending a 2027 and 2028 first-round pick to Las Vegas?
The answer depends on how close the Cowboys think they are to fixing the rest of the defense. Their offense can be elite, and Crosby would absolutely upgrade the pass rush. But if the secondary still can’t cover anybody and the interior defensive line can’t hold up against the run, even Crosby might not be enough.
That’s why this feels like a situation to watch as the deadline gets closer and Dallas gets a better read on where the defense really stands.
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Klint Kubiak's Hard Edge Is Already Testing What Raiders Can Be
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The early returns have shown up on defense, where Rob Leonard has helped shape a group that looked sharp in the Raiders first game of the season. Las Vegas finished Week One leading the NFL in havoc plays, an encouraging indicator for a unit that wants to play fast, disruptive football under a first-year coordinator. Whether that intensity holds up over a full season is the question, but the Raiders already look like a team being pushed hard enough to find out. [Read more 🡒]