Maxx Crosby Trade Falls Through as Cowboys Shift Focus to Rashan Gary
The 2026 NFL offseason witnessed a significant setback on Tuesday night when the Baltimore Ravens withdrew from a trade to send two first-round picks to the Las Vegas Raiders for five-time Pro Bowl edge rusher Maxx Crosby. The Ravens cited medical concerns following Crosby's knee surgery in January as the reason for their decision. While the Dallas Cowboys initially showed interest in acquiring Crosby, they were hesitant to part with multiple first-round picks, unlike Baltimore. Following the Ravens' exit, the likelihood of the Cowboys re-engaging in trade discussions diminished. Reports from NFL Media suggested the Cowboys might still consider a Crosby trade, but subsequent updates from The Athletic and ESPN indicated that they would not pursue Crosby after trading for Pro Bowler Rashan Gary from the Green Bay Packers in exchange for a 2027 fourth-round pick. Had the Cowboys wanted to re-enter the Crosby negotiations, they could have released Gary, as his contract has no guaranteed money left, allowing them to save $19.5 million in salary cap space. However, such a move seems improbable, given the value of a fourth-round pick in a strong draft class. As the new league year begins on Wednesday, the Cowboys will field a revamped defensive line featuring three former first-round picks: Gary, three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kenny Clark, and four-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Quinnen Williams. They will also rely on defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa, who has recorded 112 quarterback pressures, and 2025 second-round pick Donovan Ezeiruaku. Despite these additions, the Cowboys still face challenges, including a gap at linebacker following their missed pursuit of Nakobe Dean, who signed a three-year, $36 million contract with the Raiders, and the need for a reliable nickel corner after Jourdan Lewis departed for the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Source: CBS Sports - 2026-03-11