Despite a failed physical and voided trade, the price for the Raiders' elite pass-rusher is skyrocketing. Dallas must weigh escalating draft capital against Crosby's lingering health concerns.
FRISCO - The Dallas Cowboys stepped up to the plate in a big way with one offseason attempt to swing for the fences on a Maxx Crosby trade.
And I'm strongly of the belief that Dallas should call the Las Vegas Raiders again. Right now.
And if that doesn't work, again, during training camp in August.
And if that doesn't work, again, when Dallas gets off to a winning start in the regular season (2-0?) while the Raiders show themselves to be losers again - that "loser'' status being one of the reasons Crosby's ever been discussed as being on the trade block.
And with the NFL trade deadline slated for 3 p.m. CT on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2026? Yup. Keep calling all the way to the buzzer.
There are a number of media outlets who see it my way.
That group includes ESPN'sDan Graziano, who writes, "I wouldn't expect Crosby trade talk to heat up again until he gets on a field and shows he's healthy. And from everything I've been told, that could be in August or later."
That group also includes Bleacher Report, which is sharing its "latest NFL trade block big board," and making what is now a fairly standard Cowboys-Crosby connection.
But there is one area where there is a major disagreement between where I sit and what B/R (and others) believe the trade cost should be here.
B/R's projected trade price? A 2027 first-round Pick and a 2028 first-round pick.
Wait a second; the Crosby trade to Baltimore was voided because Maxx's knee didn't allow him to pass a Ravens physical ... But somehow the trade-offer price just went up?
You'll recall that Dallas issued a series of proposals to the Raiders before the failed physical and then the Cowboys' trade for another edge rusher in Green Bay's Rashan Gary.
When the Cowboys were initially in the Crosby mix, owner Jerry Jones' front-office team first offered up the No. 20 overall pick along with Osa Odighizuwa.
Once the Raiders rejected that, Dallas tried again, proposing its 2026 first-round pick (12th overall) and 2027 third-round pick.
Vegas said no again, and Dallas tried one more time: How about a 2026 first-round pick (20th overall) and a 2027 second-round pick?
The Raiders declined that as well.
They moved on to their ill-fated Ravens deal while the Cowboys did the Gary deal and then used their first-rounders to land first-rounders Caleb Downs and Malachi Lawrence.
Dallas, by the way, is feeling pretty good at the way all of the chips fell.
But ...
This team could still use another premium player on defense, especially as a pass-rusher. Gary is good and Lawrence might be, but they're not in the same class with Crosby ...
If he's healthy.
And there's the rub as it regards what to offer this time around.
Las Vegas did seek two first-round picks in the deal, and the Ravens coughed that up.
But now?
Crosby's health is a matter of public record and league-wide scrutiny. If the Cowboys were unwilling to trade two first-rounders ahead of the 2026 draft when they assumed Crosby's knee was fine, why would they offer that now with that same knee and his rehab bringing some level of doubt into the conversation?
There is logic in Dallas offering the Raiders a conditional package. Let's say, a 2027 second-round pick that morphs into a first-rounder, along with a later pick that also moves up, if Crosby, say, plays in 12 games, or registers 10 sacks.
But to give up two first-rounders with no protection against Crosby's injury issue lingering? That'd be like the Cowboys stepping up to that aforementioned plate without a bat.
Crosby-to-Dallas can still make sense. Today and months from now. But the Cowboys' proposed price isn't going to be higher than it was in the spring. It's going to be lower.
