For a few days this offseason, Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby thought he was a member of the Baltimore Ravens.
The two teams agreed to a blockbuster trade that sent Crosby from Vegas to Baltimore for first-round picks in 2026 and 2027, but the deal ultimately fell apart.
The Ravens were reportedly concerned with Crosby’s injured knee after he took his physical. They used those concerns to back out of the trade at the last minute, though many have their suspicions that wasn’t the real reason Baltimore got cold feet.
“Sources with the Raiders and those close to Crosby are skeptical that his medical state was the sole motive for the trade reversal, given the timing and that Baltimore had a full understanding of the injury before the trade,” ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler wrote.
Though Crosby was almost a Raven, there was a moment the Dallas Cowboys were making a serious push to land the 28-year-old defensive end.
Cowboys Made Raiders Major Offer for Crosby
GettyThe Dallas Cowboys offered a monster trade package to the Raiders for Maxx Crosby
According to Fowler, the Cowboys weren’t willing to pony up the multiple first-round picks Vegas was asking for, but they were offering a major trade package that would’ve enticed most teams.
“Baltimore beat out the Dallas Cowboys, who were also seeking an elite pass-rusher,” Fowler added. “Initial offers centered on Dallas’ second first-round pick at No. 20, and defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa.
“The Cowboys then offered their top first-rounder at No. 12 and a third-round pick. Ultimately, the Cowboys moved to No. 12 and their second-round pick, but the last two offers, sources said, did not include Odighizuwa, who was traded to the San Francisco 49ers for a third-round selection.”
Had Dallas pulled off the deal, it would still have the No. 20 overall pick in next month’s draft plus a third-rounder from the 49ers trade, its own fourth- and fifth-round picks, two compensatory fifth-rounders, plus a seventh-round pick from the Tennessee Titans.
Crosby also would’ve been a massive upgrade for the Cowboys’ pass-rush, which struggled to replace Micah Parsons last season. The team was tied for the seventh-fewest sacks in the league last year (35), and Jadeveon Clowney and James Houston were the only players with more than 5 sacks.
Cowboys’ Doctor Got Close Look at Crosby’s Knee
GettyLas Vegas Raiders DE Maxx Crosby
While the Ravens organization collectively made the decision to pass on the Crosby trade, Cowboys’ team doctor Dan Cooper also played a small role in the process.
Cooper, who’s regarded as one of the top knee specialists around the league, examined Crosby’s condition while Baltimore was weighing its options.
“In addition to their own doctors, the Ravens had a handful of doctors outside the organization weigh in on Crosby’s knee, including Dan Cooper, a renowned knee specialist and the Cowboys’ team doctor,” Fowler stated.
“In the past, Dallas has leaned on Cooper’s expertise in making decisions such as drafting Jaylon Smith in the second round in 2016, despite torn ligaments and nerve damage, and drafting Shavon Revel Jr. last year in the third round despite a torn ACL. But Cooper was not the primary voice in determining whether Baltimore should back out of the deal.”
If the Cowboys were to make another offer to the Raiders for Crosby, they at least know what they would be getting into.
Cowboys Offered Raiders Massive Trade Haul for Maxx Crosby: Report