Cowboys Reportedly Devastated on Not Landing Maxx Crosby, Targeting Top Edge Rushers

Jaelan Phillips

American football player (born 1999)

Jaelan Everett Phillips (born May 28, 1999) is an American professional football linebacker for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the UCLA Bruins and Miami Hurricanes for two seasons. Phillips went on to study musical production at the Los ...

Dallas Cowboys

National Football League franchise in the Dallas metropolitan area

The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football team based in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. The Cowboys compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) East division. The team is headquartered in Frisco, Texas, and has played its home ga...

Maxx Crosby

American football player (born 1997)

Maxx Robert Crosby (born August 22, 1997) is an American professional football defensive end for the Las Vegas Raiders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Eastern Michigan Eagles and was selected by the Oakland Raiders in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL draft.

Trey Hendrickson

American football player (born 1994)

Trey Hendrickson (born December 5, 1994) is an American professional football defensive end for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Florida Atlantic Owls and was selected by the New Orleans Saints in the third round of the 2017 NFL draft. ...

Why It Matters

The Dallas Cowboys' inability to acquire Maxx Crosby represents a significant blow to their defense, as they scramble to fill a critical pass-rushing void ahead of the Super Bowl window. This loss forces the team to pivot to expensive free agents like Trey Hendrickson, potentially straining their salary cap and limiting their ability to address other roster needs. The reported 'devastation' indicates that the front office views this as a major missed opportunity to immediately upgrade their defensive line. Furthermore, this development strengthens the rosters of division rivals like the Ravens and Eagles, altering the competitive balance in the NFC.

Context & Background

• The Raiders traded Maxx Crosby to the Baltimore Ravens on Friday, ending his tenure in Las Vegas after five seasons.
• The Cowboys previously attempted to acquire Trey Hendrickson from the Cincinnati Bengals at the trade deadline but were rejected by Cincinnati.
• The NFL's legal tampering period begins Monday, March 11, allowing teams to officially negotiate with free agents.
• The Cowboys offered a first-round pick and a second-round pick for Crosby, but the Raiders received two first-round selections in return.
• The salary cap constraints in the NFL make high-profile signings like Hendrickson's potentially difficult for the Cowboys to execute.

What Happens Next

The legal tampering period opens on Monday, allowing the Cowboys to officially negotiate contracts with Hendrickson, Phillips, and others. Free agency officially begins on Wednesday, March 12, when all deals can be signed. The Cowboys are expected to finalize a trade or contract for one of the targeted edge rushers by the end of the week. We can also expect the team to address remaining roster holes, such as the offensive line, once the pass rush is settled.

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