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Jerry Jones, Cowboys Make Maxx Crosby Decision on Thursday

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Chris Phelps | Last updated Mar 12, 2026 10:39 PM ET

Jerry Jones watched on as his Dallas Cowboys had yet another disappointing NFL season, ending 2025 with a 7-9-1 record and missing out on the playoffs for a second consecutive year. Now, Jones has turned to free agency and the trade market in hopes of bringing the Cowboys back to the postseason.

One of the first moves Dallas made in the offseason was franchise tagging star wide receiver George Pickens, who was set to become a free agent. But Jones wasn't done there, trading away a seventh-round pick to the Green Bay Packers in exchange for defensive end Rashan Gary. But Jones and the Cowboys could still be interested in replacing Micah Parsons with another superstar.

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones.Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

Maxx Crosby, after a college career with Eastern Michigan, was selected by the Las Vegas Raiders, formerly the Oakland Raiders, with the No. 106 pick in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL Draft. And the defensive end has stayed with the Raiders since, recording 439 tackles and 69.5 sacks while making five Pro Bowls and two All-Pro teams.

But following the 2025 NFL season, Las Vegas elected to trade Crosby to the Baltimore Ravens in exchange for a 2026 and 2027 first-round pick. However, after Crosby failed a physical examination, the Ravens backed out of the trade, sending the superstar pass rusher back to the Raiders.

Jones and the Cowboys had expressed interest in acquiring Crosby ahead of the Ravens deal, offering a first- and second-round pick. And while he does not anticipate Dallas trading for the defensive end in the future, Jones and the Cowboys have decided not to rule it out.

“We’re pretty far down the road relative to what our plans are," Jones said to the Associated Press. "So while I don’t anticipate it, I don’t want to rule anything out.”

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones on Maxx Crosby: “We’re pretty far down the road relative to what our plans are. So while I don’t anticipate it, I don’t want to rule anything out.” https://t.co/qW8nbwZqtc
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) March 13, 2026

If Jones and the Cowboys were to acquire Crosby, pairing him with Gary and second-year defensive end Donovan Ezeiruaku would provide Dallas with a much-improved pass rush.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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