As the saying goes, never say never. In so many words, Jerry Jones applied the cliché to the Dallas Cowboys and edge rusher Maxx Crosby while speaking to reporters Thursday night.
“We’re pretty far down the road relative to what our plans are,” Jones said, via The Athletic’s Jon Machota. “So while I don’t anticipate it, I don’t want to rule anything out.”
Machota described the Cowboys as “having interest” in Crosby before the Las Vegas Raiders agreed to trade him to the Baltimore Ravens last Friday night. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported the Cowboys offered a first-rounder and second-round pick to the Raiders for Crosby.
Baltimore’s offer included two first-round selections.
Crosby, though, returned to the Raiders this week after the Ravens revoked the trade. Multiple insiders reported Crosby failed a physical, which cancelled the trade less than 24 hours before it could become official. The edge rusher underwent surgery to repair a meniscus in January.
In between the Raiders accepting Baltimore’s offer and the Ravens cancelling the deal, the Cowboys acquired edge rusher Rashan Gary from the Green Bay Packers for a fourth-round pick.
Could the Cowboys Still Acquire Maxx Crosby?
Jones’s comments were music to the NFL rumor mill’s ears.
Yes, it’s going to be difficult for any team to acquire Crosby now. A lot of suitors have already spent the cap space they may have required to trade for Crosby.
Even if the cap space is still available, potential suitors such as the Cowboys may have moved on to add other edge rushers.
Jones admitted that’s the reality for Dallas. Yet, he still wouldn’t say a Crosby trade to the Cowboys definitely won’t happen.
That’s all pundits will need to hear to create Crosby trade proposals to Dallas for the rest of the offseason.
While the Cowboys weren’t willing to offer two first-rounders for Crosby, there’s little doubt Jones would love to get the Raiders edge rusher. Over the past five years, Crosby has made five Pro Bowls and earned two second-team All-Pro nominations.
In his entire seven-year career, Crosby has nearly averaged 10 sacks per season.
For now, though, he’s embracing his return to Las Vegas. Crosby delivered a very positive message on social media about his cancelled trade late Wednesday night.
“Everything happens for a reason,” Crosby wrote on X. “Believe nothing you hear & half of what you see.
“I’m a Raider. I’m back. Run that [expletive].”
Jerry Jones ‘Betting’ on Defensive Improvement
It’s possible Jones isn’t ruling out still trading for Crosby because of how badly his team needed defensive upgrades of any kind going into the offseason.
The Cowboys finished 30th in yards allowed and last in points yielded during 2025. They were also last in passing yards allowed and several other pass defensive categories.
But even though the Cowboys haven’t added Crosby, that doesn’t mean Jones isn’t expected a much better Dallas defense in 2026.
Along with trading for Gary, the Cowboys have already signed five defensive players in free agency. That includes starting safety Jalen Thompson.
The additions have Jones pleased.
“I feel very good about it,” Jones said, via Machota. “We have nowhere but up to go on defense. That’s not anyone’s fault at all. But we’re going to almost assuredly be much better. And I’m betting on us improving on offense. That ought to get us with a better feeling when we get into December.”
The Cowboys defense could really go “up” if the team also acquired Crosby. It’s not likely, but not completely dead yet either.
Jerry Jones Breaks Silence on Cowboys Remaining Interest in Maxx Crosby