The NFL offseason sometimes sees almosts, the deals that feel certain right up until they aren’t. Maxx Crosby’s near trade from Las Vegas fits neatly into that category. For a brief moment, it seemed like Baltimore had landed its defensive cornerstone.
Then came the physical, the hesitation, and finally the cancellation. And somewhere in the margins of this story sat the Dallas Cowboys, interested, involved, and ultimately left imagining an outcome that never arrived.
How Maxx Crosby’s Failed Trade Impacts Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones’ Plans
If you squint at the timeline, the trade had all the makings of a done deal. Two first-round picks, a five-time Pro Bowler, a contender looking to sharpen its edge, clean and decisive. However, Crosby’s knee, fresh off surgery after a late-season absence in 2025, became the sticking point no one could ignore.
Baltimore stepped back and let the deal slip through its fingers.
Dallas, though, wasn’t just watching the dominoes fall. The Cowboys had already placed their own bet, offering a strong package that suggested real intent rather than casual interest.
More curiously, their fingerprints appeared in the evaluation process itself, with a trusted knee specialist affiliated with the organization consulted during Baltimore’s review. It’s the kind of detail that makes you wonder how close Dallas came to inheriting the same dilemma.
Jerry Jones doesn’t seem interested in the mystery. To him, there’s no twist ending here, just the procedural reality of a physical exam. You pass, or you don’t. And if you don’t, everything else becomes irrelevant.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones on if Dallas would re-visit making a move for Maxx Crosby pic.twitter.com/EZqFyGPIdW
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) March 31, 2026
He has always had a way of speaking in terms of possibilities rather than promises. He didn’t close the door on Crosby. He didn’t open it either. Instead, he left it slightly ajar.
“I don’t anticipate, standing here right now, revisiting that situation,” Jones said at the NFL Owners Meetings. “I don’t anticipate it. Is it possible? Yes.”
The hesitation feels intentional. Dallas has already taken steps to reinforce its pass rush, and with two first-round picks in hand, the franchise isn’t exactly short on options. And yet, Crosby isn’t just any option.
BE AN NFL GM: PFSN’s Ultimate GM Simulator
He’s the kind of player who can turn the tide of a game. His 2025 season reads like proof of concept: consistent pressure, 45 solo tackles, 10 sacks, a 95.3 PFSN NFL EDGE Impact score, and a motor that doesn’t seem to understand the idea of slowing down.
Nevertheless, Crosby stays in Las Vegas, at least for now. Rehabbing, resetting, and likely aware that his name hasn’t quite exited the trade conversation.
