The Dallas Cowboys have put themselves in position to chase a major trade, and Maxx Crosby keeps surfacing as the name to watch.
Ahead of the season opener, Dallas cleared room by restructuring the deals of Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kenny Clark, All-Pro cornerback DaRon Bland, and two-time Pro Bowl tight end Jake Ferguson. Before those moves, the Cowboys had more than $14 million in cap space. Afterward, they’re sitting on approximately $33 million.
That matters because, as ESPN’s Todd Archer noted, the team would have the flexibility to swing a significant deal before the deadline later in the season. Archer pointed to last year’s move for Pro Bowl defensive tackle Quinnen Williams from the New York Jets as proof that Dallas is willing to act when the right opportunity comes along.
The Cowboys were one of the teams viewed as a front-runner to land Crosby in the offseason, but that push appeared to fade when the Baltimore Ravens stepped in. Then the Ravens-Raiders trade fell apart, and Dallas suddenly looked like it was back in the conversation.
The interest also fits a larger need. After they traded Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers last season, the Cowboys have been trying to replace that spot again, and the reporting suggests they want an established player rather than another guess.
Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio has already connected the dots, pointing to the cap space and Crosby’s contract. “With more than $30 million in 2026 cap space now on hand, the Cowboys have plenty of space to absorb a veteran contract (or two) via trade.
Coincidentally, or not, Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby has a 2026 base salary of $30 million. Just saying,” Florio said.
Earlier this week, there were also reports that the Cowboys were not done adding talent.
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Maxx Crosby Just Got Pulled Back Into Raiders Trade Talk
The Cowboys latest round of restructures has turned a previously tight cap situation into one with real flexibility, and that immediately changes the kind of phone calls they can make ahead of the trade deadline. Dallas has gone from a little more than $14 million in room to roughly $33 million, a jump that puts premium players back on the table if the front office wants to chase a bigger swing.
Maxx Crosby is the name that naturally rises to the top of that conversation because of his contract and his status as one of the leagues most disruptive edge rushers. For Raiders fans, it is another reminder that whenever a contender finds unexpected cap space, Crosbys name tends to surface almost instantly, even if the path from speculation to a real move remains a long one. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Rebuild Could Hinge On Two Decisions Fans Wont Ignore
The Raiders are trying to reset after a 3-14 season, and the early signs of that rebuild have already put a couple of franchise-defining choices in focus. Klint Kubiak was hired after the Super Bowl and quickly settled the quarterback question by naming Kirk Cousins the starter, leaving rookie Fernando Mendoza in a limited role as the staff tries to stabilize the offense and give the roster a clearer direction.
Maxx Crosbys status adds a harder layer to the picture. The pass rusher remains one of the most valuable players on the roster, but there is already a sense that Las Vegas could weigh a trade if the team is not in playoff position by midseason, with an eye toward collecting draft capital for the next stage of the rebuild. For a fan base that has already watched one painful season slip away, those are the kinds of decisions that will define whether this is a quick reset or a longer overhaul. [Read more 🡒]
Jerry Jones Could Reignite Cowboys Chatter With One All In Move
Dallas has already spent the offseason trying to tighten up its defense under coordinator Christian Parker, and the Cowboys still sound open to making another move if the right one comes along. That is why the chatter around Maxx Crosby keeps hanging around the edges of the conversation, especially after reporting surfaced that Dallas had previously put multiple offers on the table for the Raiders pass rusher, including packages built around draft picks and players.
Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report has floated the idea of the Cowboys circling back, and it is easy to see why the speculation keeps resurfacing whenever Jerry Jones starts talking like a team that is not done yet. Crosby was already part of trade discussions with Dallas before his brief stop with Baltimore and return to Las Vegas, and while nothing has come together, the possibility alone is enough to keep this storyline alive if the Cowboys decide to go all in. [Read more 🡒]