The Cowboys missed out on landing Maxx Crosby, but there are still several good options available.
The Dallas Cowboys "missed out" on landing star edge Maxx Crosby after it was revealed the franchise didn't want to give up both of its first-round picks.
We admire the Cowboys' willingness to go after Crosby, and we also admire that the franchise knew the asking price was a little too steep.
So Crosby joined the Baltimore Ravens as Eric DeCosta was fine paying the price Las Vegas wanted.
Granted, Crosby was seen as a "dream" signing anyway, and yes, he was a big fish, but the Cowboys still have plenty of ammunition to go shopping.
With needs at every level of the defense, the Cowboys, in an ideal world, would plug as many holes as possible in free agency. Whether that be with tier 1 talent or good, starting-caliber players, the offseason isn't over because of no Crosby.
And ESPN's Jeremy Fowler has detailed some other players the Cowboys could target.
Which are ones we've already explored over the past week.
“After dealing first- and second-round picks for Quinnen Williams at the trade deadline, Dallas set hard limits for how far it would go for Crosby, despite the pain associated with losing him,” Fowler wrote. "We loved him," said a Dallas source of the Crosby pursuit. This was a player the Cowboys eyed for a long time.
“Dallas must now pivot to free agency to land its pass rusher. It has monitored Trey Hendrickson dating back to the trade deadline. He's now a free agent. Jaelan Phillips, Odafe Oweh and Boye Mafe will be firmly on Dallas' radar in the coming days.”
With the Cowboys likely knowing they weren't going to get Maxx after declining to use two first-round picks, we imagine the franchise already has feelers out to the players mentioned above. ... but things are moving quickly.
Dallas (maybe deciding Hendrickson is too costly) pivoted to a trade for Green Bay's Rashan Gary.
Phillips is jumping from Philly to Carolina on a monster deal.
Still ...
There is no reason Dallas can't sign another "name'' alongside Gary, right?
Our own Mike Fisher detailed that the Cowboys are looking to add two difference-makers on defense.
So if the Cowboys paired the trade for Gary with an affordable DB (Jalen Thompson?), would that be a good enough consolation prize to losing Crosby? How about Nakobe Dean at linebacker to go with Gary?
How about Gary, Dean and Thompson?
The combinations available are many.
In the end, while Crosby was seen as the top-tier guy, the Cowboys might be better off signing a handful of players instead of just the one.