Only the Dallas Cowboys could find a way to headline two of the biggest trade rumors of the 2025 NFL season — both involving star pass rushers. Months after stunning the football world by trading Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers, Dallas is once again in the center of another potential blockbuster, this time involving Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby.
According to veteran NFL insider Trey Wingo, the Cowboys have reached out to the Raiders about Crosby’s availability amid Las Vegas’ catastrophic season. The rumor has set the football world ablaze, sparking debates over whether this deal makes sense — and whether it’s even financially possible.
Let’s break down the key reasons this deal could happen — and the significant hurdles that might stop it in its tracks.
Why the Trade Could Actually Happen
1. The Cowboys Need Defensive Star Power Again
When the Cowboys traded Micah Parsons, they didn’t just lose a defensive superstar — they lost the emotional engine of their defense. Parsons’ departure left a void in both pass rush and leadership that has been impossible to replace.
This season, the Cowboys’ defense has been inconsistent, oscillating between dominance and disaster. One week, they’re losing to the lowly Panthers; the next, they’re pushing the Packers to overtime. The inconsistency stems from their inability to generate consistent pressure and set the edge against the run — precisely where Maxx Crosby excels.
Crosby, at 28 years old, is in his prime. He’s a relentless, high-motor player who embodies effort and toughness. Unlike Parsons, whose game revolves around speed and agility, Crosby is a power-based edge rusher who also thrives in stopping the run. That difference in style aligns perfectly with Jerry Jones’ offseason vision of building a defense tougher at the point of attack — one that could finally stand up against elite running games.
In short, Crosby is the kind of player who could redefine the Cowboys’ defensive identity.
2. The Raiders Are Teetering Toward a Full Rebuild
Las Vegas is spiraling. What began as optimism surrounding Pete Carroll’s arrival has dissolved into another disappointing season defined by injuries, blowouts, and locker-room discontent. The team’s 2-5 record and lifeless performance against Kansas City have reignited discussions about a total rebuild.
For the Raiders, trading Crosby — while painful — might be the most logical move if they’re serious about starting over. He’s their most valuable trade asset, capable of fetching high-end draft capital that could accelerate a rebuild.
Crosby has been loyal to the Raiders through years of dysfunction, but he’s also made it clear he wants to play for a contender. After six strong seasons with little postseason success, he may not want to spend his prime years in yet another rebuild. A trade to Dallas could be mutually beneficial: Crosby gets a shot at contention, and the Raiders get the assets they desperately need to reconstruct their roster.
3. Dallas Has the Draft Capital to Pull It Off
The Cowboys may not have an abundance of cap space, but they do have draft picks to make a deal enticing. Having acquired capital in the Micah Parsons trade earlier this year, Dallas can now afford to part with high picks without completely mortgaging their future.
The Raiders, meanwhile, would likely demand at least a first-round pick and additional mid-round compensation for Crosby — a price that the Cowboys could meet if they believe this move vaults them into Super Bowl contention.
With the NFC wide open this season, Jerry Jones might view Crosby as the missing piece in Dallas’s championship puzzle — a defensive cornerstone who can immediately elevate the pass rush and give the team a legitimate shot at January success.
Why the Trade Probably Won’t Happen
For all the excitement surrounding the rumor, there are just as many reasons it could fall apart.
1. The Cap Crunch Is Brutal
The biggest hurdle isn’t talent — it’s money.
The Cowboys can absorb Crosby’s salary for the remainder of 2025, but 2026 presents a serious cap nightmare. Crosby’s cap hit for next year is projected at $35.8 million, part of the massive extension he signed with the Raiders. Dallas, meanwhile, is projected to have only $2.4 million in open cap space next season — nowhere near enough to fit Crosby under the ceiling without major restructuring.
Sure, Dallas could free up some space by exercising an out clause in Kenny Clark’s contract, which would save about $21.5 million. But that money has likely already been earmarked for extending George Pickens, one of the team’s emerging offensive stars.
To fit Crosby, the Cowboys would need to restructure multiple contracts or make painful cuts. That could mean extending Dak Prescott again, trimming veterans like Trevon Diggs, or even delaying Pickens’ extension. Each of those moves carries major long-term risks.
Essentially, acquiring Crosby could push Dallas back into the same financial bind that led them to trade Parsons in the first place: too many stars, not enough salary cap flexibility.
2. Chemistry and Continuity Risks
Even if Dallas somehow makes the math work, there’s the question of fit. The Cowboys’ defense, led by coordinator Dan Quinn, is built around speed, stunts, and hybrid fronts. Crosby is a classic hand-in-the-dirt defensive end — not quite the same stylistic mold as Parsons.
It’s possible Quinn could adapt his scheme to maximize Crosby’s strengths, but that kind of midseason adjustment is easier said than done. Integrating a player of Crosby’s caliber and reshaping a defensive identity on the fly could take weeks, and Dallas doesn’t have the luxury of time in a tight NFC playoff race.
Moreover, the Cowboys have already undergone significant roster turnover this season. Adding another superstar, while exciting, might further destabilize a locker room that’s still adjusting to life without Parsons.
3. The Raiders Might Want to Keep Their Star
There’s also a chance that the Raiders — despite the rumors — have no intention of actually trading Crosby.
Yes, the franchise is a mess, but Pete Carroll has long valued defensive anchors who lead by example. Crosby fits that mold perfectly. Even amid chaos, he’s been the heartbeat of the Raiders’ locker room — a relentless competitor whose work ethic sets the standard for everyone else.
Trading him could send the wrong message to younger players about accountability and leadership. If Carroll believes he can rebuild the culture around Crosby, then dealing him away might not align with his long-term vision.
The Verdict: Fantasy or Reality?
So, could Maxx Crosby really end up in Dallas?
The odds aren’t great — but they’re not impossible either. Sources suggest that if the Raiders start officially entertaining offers, multiple teams would enter the bidding war. The Cowboys would likely be among the frontrunners, given their aggressive front office and willingness to take bold swings.
Dallas has always been a team that lives for the spotlight. Jerry Jones loves a headline-grabbing move, especially one that reasserts the Cowboys’ brand of star power. Trading for Crosby would do exactly that — it would electrify the fanbase, strengthen the defense, and instantly shift the NFC balance of power.
But the financial gymnastics required, combined with the potential long-term repercussions, make this deal more fantasy than reality. The Cowboys have already shown this year how quickly big-money decisions can come back to haunt them. Unless they find creative cap solutions or get unexpected relief elsewhere, the numbers simply don’t add up.
Still, in the NFL — and especially in Dallas — never say never.
If the Raiders decide to tear it all down and field offers for their franchise cornerstone, expect a frenzy. And if that happens, the Cowboys will almost certainly be on the phone.
For now, we’ll call it a 40% chance — tantalizing enough to keep fans dreaming, but unlikely enough to remind us that sometimes, even in Big D, the biggest blockbusters stay on paper.