Maxx Crosby could be a Cowboys trade target again.
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Maxx Crosby could be a Cowboys trade target again.
The news that roiled the entire NFL on Tuesday evening had ripple effects that could be felt in Dallas and over at the Cowboys headquarters at The Star. The epicenter obviously hit in Baltimore, where the Ravens backed out of their blockbuster trade for Maxx Crosby because of concerns about the health of his knee, as well as Las Vegas, where the Raiders now must take Crosby back and deal with the $280 million in contracts they gave out in the last two days–including undoing one or more of them.
There is a double-whammy of fascinating news here for Dallas, in fact. The Cowboys were the runners-up in the Crosby sweepstakes, unwilling to give up two first-rounders for Crosby, but willing to give up one first-rounder and other draft capital for him. Now that the Raiders deal has been undone, might the Cowboys be more willing to take on Crosby’s health risk and make the Raiders another offer?
Cowboys Are Back in the Maxx Crosby Trade Mix
League insider Ian Rapoport posited that question on Twitter/X on Tuesday night. He wrote, “Would the#Cowboys be back in? With what they’ve done in free agency… it may not be possible. But time will tell.”
His colleague at NFL Network, though, Tom Pelissero, said that the Cowboys would, in fact, jump back into the Crosby fray.
Said Pelissero on Tuesday: “All are trying to get answers on exactly what transpired here and the ripple effect this has across other moves that have been made. Tens of millions of dollars, hundreds of millions, spent by various teams across the league. Trades that have been executed in part because there is a domino effect that starts with the biggest domino. That was Maxx Crosby. There are teams that are still going to be interested in a Maxx Crosby trade, but there are things they are going to need to get answers on, starting with the medical.
“I would specifically say, the other team that was in it at the end is the Dallas Cowboys. I am told the Dallas Cowboys would be still interested in a Maxx Crosby trade if indeed it is medical.”
Cowboys Would Have to Undo Rashan Gary Trade
If the Cowboys were to get back into the Crosby mix, they would have to undo their trade with the Packers for Rashan Gary, which they could legally accomplish because none of these trades are official until the league year begins on Wednesday. The Packers would not be happy, obviously, but the Cowboys would not be breaking league rules by doing so.
The Cowboys would then have to get the Raiders to accept a package for Crosby, who is now going to be seen as a dented can because of the Ravens’ decision. It’s possible the Cowboys could get Crosby for less than they originally offered and simply take the chance that his knee will hold up.
Maxx Crosby Ripple Effect at LB?
But another interesting possibility could hit Dallas, too–the Cowboys could fall backwards into the linebacker they’ve wanted if the Raiders determine they ought to keep Crosby in Las Vegas. His $35 million cap hit would be back on the books, and though the Raiders started the free-agent process with ample space available, they would need to undo some of their agreements with free agents.
That could include linebackers Quay Walker and Nakobe Dean, both of whom met with the Cowboys via Zoom and received competitive offers from Dallas before signing with the Raiders.
Like the Ravens did with the Crosby deal, teams and players can back out of agreements before the league year starts, which means the Raiders could rescind offers to Dean or Walker–or both–and leave both open for Dallas to make another run at them.