Just one month after the Maxx Crosby-to-the-Baltimore-Ravens trade—centered on Baltimore’s No. 14 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft and a 2027 first-round pick—was nixed, rumors continue to swirl about a potential Maxx Crosby deal as the NFL Draft approaches. The asking price has remained firm: two first-round selections. And a handful of teams still possess the draft capital to make it happen.
Enter the Dallas Cowboys.
After the Cincinnati Bengals stunned the league by trading the No. 10 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft for New York Giants defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence, teams with similar roster constructions—most notably Dallas—may be feeling a serious case of FOMO.
Maxx Crosby to the Dallas Cowboys Trade Proposal
In this scenario, the Cowboys would send the No. 12 overall pick in the 2026 Draft plus their 2027 first-rounder to the Raiders. Raiders fans might instinctively push back, arguing the price should be the No. 20 selection instead of No. 12. Yet when measured against the original framework the Raiders accepted from Baltimore (No. 14 and a 2027 first), this offer is not unreasonable.
Why the Dallas Cowboys Would Accept
Dallas enters the draft armed with two first-round picks that could each yield legitimate young building blocks. But draft picks are never guarantees. Surrendering the 2027 first-rounder would leave the Cowboys without a first-round selection next year—an undeniable cost. Still, the immediate return would be transformative.
Pairing Maxx Crosby with Quinnen Williams instantly upgrades the defensive front. Add the No. 12 overall pick—potentially used on a prospect such as Mansoor Delane or Caleb Downs—and the unit suddenly features Crosby, Donovan Ezeiruaku, Quinnen Williams, and a high-upside rookie. That is a terrifying group for opposing offenses.
Some within the Cowboys organization might hesitate, pointing out that edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. could still be available at No. 12. In that case, Dallas could keep both the No. 20 pick and next year’s first-rounder while still drafting Bain to pair alongside Ezeiruaku. Yet the counter-argument is simple: scared money doesn’t make money. Adding Crosby to this defense would create “scary hours” for every quarterback on the schedule.
Why the Las Vegas Raiders Would Accept
For the Raiders, the calculus is equally clear. When a franchise cornerstone relationship takes a publicized “break,” history suggests the split is coming. Rebuilding around quarterback Fernando Mendoza has become the organization’s unequivocal priority, and the fastest, most efficient path to that future is stacking premium draft capital.
At No. 20 overall, Las Vegas would still be in position to select difference-makers. Top-five receiver prospects such as KC Concepcion (Texas A&M) and Denzel Boston (Washington) remain realistic targets, either of whom could develop into a true WR1 to complement Mendoza for years. Should the receiver board thin out, cornerbacks like Colton Hood (Tennessee) project into that range, offering a high-upside defensive addition.
The incoming 2027 first-round pick—originally belonging to Green Bay—carries enormous long-term upside. By the time Mendoza enters his sophomore season, the Raiders will have a much clearer view of their remaining roster needs, and that future first-rounder is projected to land in premium territory.
In the end, both sides would be making the rational, forward-looking choice. The Cowboys would be buying a proven superstar to vault their defense into the elite tier. The Raiders would be converting their franchise cornerstone into the massive haul necessary to accelerate the rebuild around their young quarterback. The only question left is whether Dallas is willing to pull the trigger before the 2026 NFL Draft clock strikes zero.
