![\"Cincinnati](\"https:\/\/images2.minutemediacdn.com\/image\/upload\/c_crop,x_0,y_507,w_7181,h_4039\/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto\/images\/ImagnImages\/mmsport\/cowboys_country\/01kesppx8vxjdpax28vm.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The Dallas Cowboys<\/strong> have been linked to elite pass rushers since the NFL trade deadline, and one name continues to surface whenever defensive upgrades are discussed: Maxx Crosby<\/strong>. While the connection between Dallas and the Las Vegas Raiders star has lingered for months, not everyone believes trading for Crosby is the right move.<\/p>\n In fact, a pair of prominent Dallas radio hosts<\/strong> argue the Cowboys should take a completely different approach this offseason\u2014one that strengthens the pass rush without sacrificing valuable draft capital<\/strong>.<\/p>\n At the NFL trade deadline, the Cowboys made it clear they were serious about upgrading their roster for a championship push. That aggressiveness resulted in a significant move, as Dallas acquired Quinnen Williams<\/strong> from the New York Jets, bolstering the interior of their defensive line.<\/p>\n However, league insiders reported that Dallas also explored the possibility of trading for Maxx Crosby<\/strong>, the Raiders\u2019 relentless edge rusher and face of their defense. While no deal materialized at the time, those rumors never fully went away.<\/p>\n Now, with Crosby\u2019s season ending amid reported tension between himself and the Raiders organization, speculation has resurfaced. Many believe Las Vegas could be open to listening to offers\u2014and Dallas is once again being mentioned as a potential suitor.<\/p>\n But not everyone in Cowboys circles is on board.<\/p>\n On 105.3 The Fan<\/strong>, longtime Dallas radio personalities Shan Shariff and R.J. Choppy<\/strong> addressed the Cowboys\u2019 need at defensive end\u2014and made it clear they would pass on Crosby, despite acknowledging his elite status.<\/p>\n Their reasoning wasn\u2019t about Crosby\u2019s talent. Instead, it centered on cost<\/strong>.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not trading what it\u2019s going to take to get Crosby here,\u201d Shariff said. \u201cJust go get Trey Hendrickson without giving up picks.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n That sentiment reflects a growing concern among Cowboys observers: acquiring Crosby would likely require multiple high draft picks<\/strong>, potentially including a first-rounder. For a team trying to balance short-term contention with long-term roster health, that price may be too steep.<\/p>\n Rather than trading for Crosby, Shariff and Choppy believe the Cowboys should pursue Trey Hendrickson<\/strong>, currently with the Cincinnati Bengals<\/strong>.<\/p>\n The key difference? Hendrickson is expected to be available in free agency<\/strong>, meaning Dallas could add a proven pass rusher without surrendering draft capital.<\/p>\n \u201cI think we\u2019ve forgotten that Hendrickson\u2014correct me if I\u2019m wrong\u2014is just there and available,\u201d Choppy said. \u201cSo give Hendrickson a two- or three-year deal. He\u2019s not as good as Crosby, and he\u2019s coming off an injury, but I\u2019m not touching my first-round pick or draft capital.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n For Dallas, that distinction matters.<\/p>\n Hendrickson is 31 years old<\/strong>, and he is coming off a season shortened by a hip injury<\/strong> that landed him on injured reserve. On the surface, those factors might raise red flags.<\/p>\n However, Shariff and Choppy argue that context matters.<\/p>\n The Cowboys\u2019 championship window is closely tied to Dak Prescott<\/strong>, who is also in his 30s. With Prescott under contract and the core of the roster aging, Dallas may realistically have a two-year window<\/strong> to make a serious Super Bowl run.<\/p>\n In that scenario, long-term upside becomes less important than immediate impact.<\/p>\n \u201cIf your window is right now, you get guys who can change games right now,\u201d the hosts emphasized.<\/p>\n Hendrickson fits that profile.<\/p>\n When healthy, Hendrickson has been one of the most productive edge rushers in the NFL.<\/p>\n Despite playing only seven games this season<\/strong>, he still recorded four sacks<\/strong> before the hip injury sidelined him. More importantly, his recent track record speaks for itself:<\/p>\n 17.5 sacks in 2024<\/strong> (NFL leader)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n 17.5 sacks in 2023<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n 61 total sacks over five seasons with the Bengals<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n That level of consistency is rare\u2014and it\u2019s exactly what Dallas needs opposite Micah Parsons to keep offenses from sliding protection in one direction.<\/p>\n Adding Hendrickson would immediately give the Cowboys one of the most dangerous pass-rushing duos in football.<\/p>\n One reason Hendrickson could be particularly appealing to Dallas is cost efficiency<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Because he ended the season on injured reserve, teams may hesitate to offer top-of-the-market contracts. That hesitation could work in the Cowboys\u2019 favor, allowing them to sign an elite sack producer on a short-term, team-friendly deal<\/strong>.<\/p>\n For a front office that values flexibility and draft depth, this approach aligns far better than surrendering premium picks for Crosby.<\/p>\n There\u2019s no denying Maxx Crosby\u2019s impact. He\u2019s one of the league\u2019s most relentless defenders, capable of wrecking game plans on his own. But that level of dominance comes with a steep price.<\/p>\n Any trade for Crosby would likely require:<\/p>\n Multiple high draft picks<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Significant salary cap commitment<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Potential roster restructuring<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n For a Cowboys team already investing heavily in stars like Prescott, Parsons, and Williams, such a move could limit flexibility elsewhere.<\/p>\n Shariff and Choppy\u2019s argument isn\u2019t anti-Crosby\u2014it\u2019s pro-balance.<\/p>\n Dallas has historically built through the draft, and maintaining first-round picks has been a cornerstone of their roster strategy. Trading those picks for one player, even an elite one, carries risk\u2014especially when free agency offers viable alternatives.<\/p>\n By signing Hendrickson instead, the Cowboys could:<\/p>\n Preserve Round 1 draft capital<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Address other roster needs<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Maintain long-term flexibility<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n That strategy fits the Cowboys\u2019 current roster construction philosophy far better than an all-in trade.<\/p>\n The Cowboys\u2019 connection to Maxx Crosby isn\u2019t going away anytime soon. As long as the Raiders\u2019 situation remains uncertain, his name will continue to circulate in trade rumors.<\/p>\n But according to some of the most plugged-in voices in Dallas sports radio, Trey Hendrickson represents the smarter, more efficient solution<\/strong>.<\/p>\n He brings elite production, playoff experience, and immediate impact\u2014without forcing the Cowboys to mortgage their future.<\/p>\n For a team staring directly at a narrow championship window, that balance might be exactly what Dallas needs.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Cowboys Linked to Maxx Crosby Again, but Dallas Radio Hosts Say Trey Hendrickson Is the Smarter Move The Dallas Cowboys have been linked to elite pass rushers… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":138937,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-138929","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nfl"],"yoast_head":"\n
\nCowboys\u2019 Defensive Line Search Isn\u2019t Over<\/h2>\n
\nDallas Radio Hosts Push Back on Maxx Crosby Trade<\/h2>\n
\nWhy Trey Hendrickson Makes More Sense for Dallas<\/h2>\n
\nAge and Injury Concerns\u2014But the Timing Fits<\/h2>\n
\nTrey Hendrickson\u2019s Proven Production<\/h2>\n
\n
\nInjury Could Lower His Market Value<\/h2>\n
\nMaxx Crosby: Elite Talent, Elite Price<\/h2>\n
\n
\nDraft Capital Still Matters for Dallas<\/h2>\n
![\"Cincinnati](\"https:\/\/images2.minutemediacdn.com\/image\/upload\/c_crop,x_2644,y_288,w_5092,h_5092\/c_fill,w_720,ar_1:1,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto\/images\/ImagnImages\/mmsport\/cowboys_country\/01kesq9hncw744714r63.jpg\")
<\/p>\n\n
\nFinal Verdict: Impact Now Without Sacrificing the Future<\/h2>\n