One of the hottest trade candidates in the NFL is starting to generate deafening buzz — and the Dallas Cowboys are in the mix.
Sources with knowledge of the situation surrounding Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby expect finality regarding his status before the opening of the new league year Wednesday. The two-time All-Pro and five-time Pro Bowler has spent his entire seven-year career with the Raiders.
To no surprise, the defensive talent-hungry Cowboys are one of the teams hotly in pursuit of a deal with the Raiders, but they aren’t alone. According to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, the Baltimore Ravens are in the mix, and the Philadelphia Eagles and Chicago Bears have also been linked to discussions with Las Vegas.
Raiders’ asking price for Maxx Crosby
The reported initial asking price for Crosby includes two first-round picks, but that package isn’t something that the Cowboys will part with. Dallas has two first-round picks in the draft this year (No. 12 and No. 20), and making at least one of those selections is viewed as necessary to overhaul a defense that was one of the league’s worst in 2026.
Now, would a first-round pick, 2027 second-round pick and a player be more palatable? It would allow Dallas to still select first-round players in the next two drafts, which will be key not only for building talent on defense but also for adding rookie contracts to the roster instead of typically more expensive veteran deals.
What player could Dallas part with?
Who could a theoretical player be in a deal? The Raiders have been keen on the idea of taking an interior defensive lineman in a deal. The Cowboys would not part with Quinnen Williams, but Kenny Clark and Osa Odighizuwa have contracts that are somewhat movable in their own ways.
For Clark, a trade would wipe the hands clean for the Cowboys of any future money owed to the 30-year-old. For Odighizuwa, it’d be a bit more complicated since the Cowboys would have to take on a $16 million dead cap hit, although they would end up saving $4.75 million toward the 2026 salary cap in the end.
New defensive coordinator Christian Parker has already spoken on the plan that’s been developing for all three premier defensive tackles, as he plans on experimenting with five-man and six-man front structures that can get all three on the field. The caveat to that, though, is that the base defense is expected to be a 3-4 scheme, leaving room for one in the starting lineup and a max of two to play a significant amount of base snaps over the course of a game.
The latest on the Maxx Crosby situation
As a handful of teams come in and out of the mix, the Cowboys have been the one constant keeping tabs on the situation. If the Raiders are willing to come down from their asking price, I’d expect Dallas to have a shot at landing Crosby. However, if a team comes in willing to give the stars and moon, the Cowboys won’t budge from their current position.
First-round picks are valuable assets for Dallas moving forward. Parting with more than one isn’t an option. If another team decides to make that offer, don’t expect the Cowboys to panic and reset their offer.
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Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Nick Harris is the Dallas Cowboys beat reporter for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. He has experience working on the beat for DallasCowboys.com and previous work experience at Yahoo Sports/Rivals and 247Sports.