Should the Cowboys Regret Not Trading for the Ravens New Star Pass Rusher?
The NFL recently had another blockbuster offseason trade, and once again, the Cowboys were involved. Maxx Crosby, the longtime elite pass rusher for the Las Vegas Raiders, is making his way to not Dallas but the Baltimore Ravens for two first-round picks. The night before the five-time Pro Bowl defensive end was announced to the Ravens, it was said that the Cowboys were eerily close to securing the star pass rusher, but with the Ravens and other teams offering more at the last second, Dallas would eventually back away from the deal. As long as Crosby causes chaos in Baltimore, many will argue that the Cowboys missed a valuable opportunity. However, will they ultimately regret not finding a way to get him?
In what was later rumored to be the Cowboys' trade offer, Dallas was willing to give the Raiders the 12th overall pick this draft, a second-round pick in 2027, and defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa. While Crosby is one of the best players at his position, the asking price for this deal seemed to be too steep for a team that has too many holes on defense to fill. The decision to give up one of the better defensive tackles on the roster, along with two young players on affordable contracts who could potentially impact the Cowboys' right away, and possibly more capital to make their offer better than the Ravens' is a hard choice to make. Ultimately, giving up all those resources was a choice Dallas was reluctant to make. Missing out on the five-time Pro Bowl defensive end may be disappointing, but with free agency and the entire NFL draft still ahead, the Cowboys can put themselves in a good position.
Crosby was not their only target for strengthening the edge, and free agency is the avenue they can pursue to address that need. Dallas has been rumored to go after Trey Hendrickson from the Bengals, and if the Cowboys can find a deal with him, he has that Crosby-esque ability to get to the quarterback, if not better. By not trading the 12th pick, Dallas still has the opportunity to select one of the top players in this year's draft. With prospects like Caleb Downs and Sonny Styles available, the Cowboys would be thrilled to add a player of that caliber to their roster. In the future, people may reflect on the possibility of Crosby joining the Cowboys as a significant "what if." The five-time Pro Bowl defensive end wanted to be in Dallas, and the Cowboys wanted him in Dallas. In the end, it did not work out. Would the Cowboys have loved to have him? Yes, but losing out on him does not ruin their aspirations of making a playoff run at all.
