Cowboys Abandon Pursuit of Maxx Crosby Trade

Dallas decides to focus on the draft after failed attempt to acquire the Raiders star pass-rusher.

Mar. 17, 2026 at 2:51pm

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The Dallas Cowboys had serious interest in trading for Maxx Crosby, the star pass-rusher for the Las Vegas Raiders. However, after the Ravens' trade for Crosby fell through due to medical concerns, the Cowboys have decided to abandon their pursuit of the player and will instead focus on finding another pass-rusher in the upcoming NFL draft.

Why it matters

The Cowboys were seen as the runners-up in the race to acquire Crosby, but they were unwilling to match the Ravens' original offer of two first-round picks. With Crosby now back with the Raiders, the Cowboys have decided to shift their attention to the draft, where they hope to find another solution to their pass-rush needs.

The details

The Cowboys had offered a first- and second-round pick for Crosby, but were not willing to match the Ravens' offer of two first-rounders. After the Ravens' trade fell through, there were suggestions that the Cowboys could try to acquire Crosby at a lower price, but the team has decided to move on. Instead, the Cowboys traded a 2027 fourth-round pick for Packers star Rashan Gary, who has had an up-and-down few years in Green Bay.

  • On March 17, 2026, the Cowboys' pursuit of Maxx Crosby was reported to be off the table.
  • In the 2026 NFL offseason, the Cowboys traded for Packers pass-rusher Rashan Gary.

The players

Maxx Crosby

A star pass-rusher for the Las Vegas Raiders who was nearly traded to the Baltimore Ravens, but the deal fell through due to medical concerns.

Dallas Cowboys

The NFL team that was interested in trading for Maxx Crosby but ultimately decided to shift their focus to the draft to address their pass-rush needs.

Rashan Gary

A pass-rusher for the Green Bay Packers who the Cowboys traded for in the 2026 offseason.

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What they’re saying

“It seems the Cowboys are out of the Maxx Crosby picture. The team offered two draft picks — a first- and second-rounder — and was willing to take on a bulk of his salary and deal with his knee issues. Now that the Crosby trade with Baltimore fell through, going back at Crosby isn't in the plans at this stage. Trading for Rashan Gary and focusing on finding another pass rusher in the NFL draft is where the Cowboys sit right now.”

— Calvin Watkins, Dallas Morning News (Dallas Morning News)

What’s next

The Cowboys will now focus their efforts on finding a pass-rusher in the upcoming NFL draft to address their needs on the defensive line.

The takeaway

The Cowboys' pursuit of Maxx Crosby has come to an end, as the team has decided to shift its attention to the draft to find a solution to its pass-rush needs. This decision comes after the team was unwilling to match the Ravens' original offer of two first-round picks for Crosby, and with the player now back with the Raiders, the Cowboys have moved on to other options.