Why Cowboys reportedly made this decision about potential trade for Maxx Crosby

Almost immediately after the Baltimore Ravens backed out of acquiring star pass-rusher Maxx Crosby from the Las Vegas Raiders this past March due to concerns related to the meniscus repair he needed following the 2025 season, some within the NFL community tried to link him with the Dallas Cowboys.

For an article published on Friday, Cowboys reporter Todd Archer of ESPN shared whether Dallas came close to trading for Crosby before the 2026 draft got underway. 

Cowboys also had "concerns" about Maxx Crosby's knee

"The Cowboys were involved in trade discussions with the Las Vegas Raiders regarding defensive end Maxx Crosby, whose trade to the Baltimore Ravens was nullified by a failed physical," Archer wrote. "The Cowboys did not reengage in the talks over their own concerns regarding Crosby's knee."

While Crosby requested a trade earlier this year, a March report indicated that he, Raiders general manager John Spytek and first-year head coach Klint Kubiak eventually got on the same page regarding the 28-year-old staying put through at least the start of the upcoming campaign. 

As it pertains to Crosby's knee, he recently said he will have "no restrictions" for the start of training camp practices. However, he will "be slightly limited in the beginning" of camp for understandable reasons. 

Two reasons Cowboys could explore trading for Maxx Crosby later this year

The Cowboys reportedly impressed executives around the league with moves they made to bolster their defense during the offseason. Meanwhile, some believe that a version of Crosby who will have "a little bit of a chip on his shoulder" will produce maybe the best season of his career.

That said, DraftKings Sportsbook had the Raiders on Friday as fourth among the betting favorites at +1000 odds to finish the 2026 season with the fewest wins in the league. Some think that the Cowboys could call the Raiders about Crosby's availability if Dallas is a contender ahead of the in-season trade deadline and a healthy Crosby is playing well for a losing Las Vegas team. 

History shows that Super Bowl sides can rarely have too much pass-rushing talent. Thus, it's fair to think that whispers linking the Cowboys with Crosby could still linger for at least a few more months.