Ownership connections between the Dallas Cowboys and Las Vegas Raiders could open the door to a blockbuster trade for edge rusher Maxx Crosby before the NFL deadline.
The Cowboys sit at 2-4 and have yet to play a complete game on either side of the ball this season. Owner Jerry Jones still insists the roster has enough talent for a Super Bowl run, but the team’s pass rush has been a clear problem.
Dallas has recorded just seven sacks through six games, with only 2.5 of those coming from edge rushers. That total ranks near the bottom of the league and has left the defense unable to consistently disrupt opposing quarterbacks.
The trade deadline arrives Nov. 10, giving teams roughly 19 days to make moves. Longtime NFL insider Jason La Canfora said the Cowboys expect to stay active in talks for pass rushers as that date approaches.
Josh Sweat of the Arizona Cardinals is viewed as a more attainable target. The Cowboys have a long-standing relationship with the Bidwill family that owns the Cardinals, and Sweat played in the NFC East with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Crosby, however, stands as the bigger prize. The 29-year-old has 71.5 career sacks since the Raiders selected him in the fourth round of the 2019 draft and has earned five Pro Bowl nods.
In an exclusive interview, La Canfora said, “Josh Sweat is someone NFL teams are trying to pry away. And Jerry and Stepen Jones will be at the head of that list. They have a strong relationship with the Bidwill family, the ownership family there in Arizona, and they’ve seen Josh Sweat up close in the NFC East. There’s plenty of other teams—the Jaguars, the Bears, even the Eagles, but I am told not to discount what Jerry and Stephen might do here. … Maxx Crosby is the big fish out there with the Raiders, and trust me, Jerry has a very strong relationship with the Raiders owner Mark Davis, and will be talking to him, too.”
That relationship with Davis could prove decisive. Jones has a history of pursuing marquee defensive players, and Crosby fits the profile of a high-impact addition who could help immediately and beyond.
The Raiders enter the week at 3-4 after a three-game losing streak. Their playoff hopes in the competitive AFC West have dimmed, and further losses could make the front office more willing to listen on Crosby.
Las Vegas nearly dealt Crosby to the Baltimore Ravens this past offseason for first-round picks in 2026 and 2027. The deal fell apart after Crosby failed a physical, returning him to the Raiders.
Crosby has two sacks and 14 tackles in six games this season while generating significant pressure. He remains under a sizable contract extension signed in 2025 that runs through 2029.
Dallas holds a clearer path to the postseason because of a weak NFC East. Adding an established edge presence could address the team’s most glaring defensive shortfall without requiring a full rebuild.
Any deal for Crosby would likely demand significant draft capital, given the Raiders’ prior asking price. The ownership ties give the Cowboys a potential edge that other suitors lack as the deadline nears.
Jones has shown willingness to spend and trade for defensive help since moving on from Micah Parsons. Whether that extends to Crosby depends on how the next few weeks unfold for both clubs.
