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The Cowboys could strike trade for a Maxx Crosby alternative.
The Dallas Cowboys have made it clear that the front office has an interest in upgrading the team’s pass rush. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has been open about the team’s interest in trading for Las Vegas Raiders star Maxx Crosby.
Yet, there are plenty of red flags that continue to make this blockbuster trade with the Raiders unlikely. The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman floated a potential trade that has the Cowboys moving all the way up to the No. 3 pick.
Dallas would trade the No. 12 and No. 92 picks in the upcoming NFL draft to the Arizona Cardinals for the No. 3 selection. The Cowboys then select Texas Tech star pass rusher David Bailey with the No. 3 pick.
Here’s what you need to know about the latest Cowboys rumors.
Cowboys Rumors: Proposed Trade Has Dallas Strike Deal With Cardinals for No. 3 Pick in NFL Draft
To move up nine spots in the draft, the Cowboys would likely need to give up more than a third-round selection. Regardless, Feldman makes the case for why Bailey should be a top target for Dallas as a defender who can add “juice” in Big D.
Arizona really needs O-line help, but this spot seems too high for what is available in this draft, so trading back is the Cards’ best move,” Feldman detailed in his April 1, 2026, NFL mock draft. “The Cowboys didn’t get Maxx Crosby and still could use more juice attacking offenses. They would love for Reese to fall here, but Bailey is another true difference-maker in a draft that isn’t all that deep with them.
“… The former Stanford player isn’t as versatile as Reese, but he is a little bigger and longer at 6-4, 251 with 33 3/4-inch arms. He’s almost as fast — he ran a 4.50 40 and vertical jumped 35 inches. He was vertically unblockable last season for Texas Tech on what was a very talented D-line, as he had 14.5 sacks, tied for No. 1 in the FBS. I think he’s an even better edge rusher than Abdul Carter, who went in this spot last year to the Giants. (And that’s not a knock on Carter.)”
Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones on Trading for Raiders Star Maxx Crosby: ‘I Don’t Anticipate It’
Bailey does not have the resume of Crosby, but comes at a much cheaper price. Both in terms of what Dallas would need to give up via trade in addition to the modest (by NFL standards) rookie deal Bailey will have compared to Crosby’s contract.
Bailey is coming off a career season posting 32 tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss and 14.5 sacks in 14 appearances during the 2025 season. As for the Cowboys’ interest in Crosby, Jones admitted that the team is unlikely to acquire Crosby, even after the Baltimore Ravens vetoed the trade citing the star’s failed physical.
“I don’t anticipate, standing here right now, revisiting that situation,” Jones said of Crosby during a March 31, media session, per DallasCowboys.com’s Tommy Yarrish. “I don’t anticipate it. Is it possible? Yes.
“… Really it’s pretty simple for me, There’s no hidden item there. You have to pass a physical. You have to pass a physical. We’ve never completed an agreement until the player passes a physical, That implies yours, being your doctors and trainers and everyone involved, get to take a look at it. That goes with the territory.”
Jonathan Adams is a veteran sports contributor covering the NFL, NBA and golf for Heavy.com. His work has been prominently featured on NFL.com, Yahoo Sports, Pro Football Talk, CBS Sports, Bleacher Report and Sports Illustrated. More about Jonathan Adams
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