Dallas and Philly: Don't Touch Maxx Crosby
Look, I get it. The "Get Up" crowd loves a good hypothetical, especially when it involves superstars and NFC East rivals. The idea of Maxx Crosby, one of the league's premier pass rushers, landing with either the Dallas Cowboys or the Philadelphia Eagles sounds spicy on paper. But let's pump the brakes on this fantasy. It's a bad idea, for both teams, and for Crosby himself.
The Raiders' Stranglehold
First off, the Raiders aren't moving Crosby. Not now, not next year. He signed a four-year, $98.98 million extension in March 2022. That deal keeps him in Vegas through the 2026 season. His cap hit for 2024 is a manageable $24.3 million, and it jumps to $25.9 million in 2025. This isn't a situation where a player is on an expiring deal or demanding out. Crosby has been the heart and soul of that defense, a guy who played through a knee injury in 2023 and still put up 14.5 sacks, tied for third in the NFL. He led the league with 90 pressures, according to PFF. You don't trade that kind of production and leadership when you're trying to build something, even if it's been a tough rebuild. The Raiders might be a mess, but they aren't stupid enough to give away their best player for draft capital that might or might not pan out.
Why Dallas and Philly Don't Need the Headache
Now, let's pretend, just for a second, the Raiders *were* willing to listen. Would Dallas or Philly even be a good fit? For the Cowboys, they already have Micah Parsons. He's a generational talent who logged 14 sacks in 2023 and 13 in 2022. Pairing Crosby with Parsons sounds like a nightmare for opposing quarterbacks, sure. But Dallas also just gave a massive extension to DeMarcus Lawrence, who's still playing at a high level. They've invested heavily in their defensive line. Adding Crosby's contract, which averages nearly $25 million per year, would cripple their cap space for other critical positions. They need to pay CeeDee Lamb and Dak Prescott is coming up. The Cowboys' biggest issue isn't a lack of pass rush; it's consistency and depth in other areas, like the offensive line, which has been a revolving door since Tyron Smith left.
And the Eagles? They just tied up Brandon Graham for another year, and Haason Reddick is still under contract for 2024, though his future has been a topic of discussion. Nolan Smith, a first-round pick in 2023, is still developing. Philly's front office prioritizes the trenches, absolutely. But they also like to draft and develop their own, rotating fresh talent in. They traded for Robert Quinn in 2022, and that didn't exactly set the world on fire. Taking on Crosby's deal and giving up multiple high draft picks — because that's what it would take for a player of his caliber — would be an overpay for a team that already has a solid defensive line and needs to address secondary issues that plagued them late in the 2023 season. Remember when they gave up 35 points to the Cardinals in Week 17? That wasn't because they lacked a pass rush.
Here's my hot take: trading for Maxx Crosby would set either the Cowboys or Eagles back more than it helps them. The cost in draft capital and salary cap space simply isn't worth it for a position where both teams already have elite or near-elite talent. They should be focusing on shoring up their weaknesses, not adding another expensive piece to an already strong unit.
A Bold Prediction
The Raiders will hold onto Maxx Crosby, and he'll finish his career in silver and black, racking up double-digit sacks every year he's healthy. Neither the Cowboys nor the Eagles will seriously pursue him, because the price tag — both in picks and salary — is simply too high for a move that doesn't fill their most pressing needs.