The Maxx Crosby trade rumors haven’t stopped, as he’s clearly the hottest commodity on the Las Vegas Raiders’ roster heading into training camp. Of course, being in the “slow news period” of the NFL calendar leads to a lot of hypothetical trades that don’t mean much. But the one below that was proposed by 105.3 The Fan’s (a popular radio station in Dallas) Bryan Broaddus caught my attention: the Raiders send the Dallas Cowboys Maxx Crosby for wide receiver George Pickens and a first-round pick.
So,
does Broaddus’ proposal make sense for both sides?
Why the Raiders would take the trade:
It’s no secret that Las Vegas lacks talent at wide receiver heading into this season. Meanwhile, Pickens is coming off the best year of his career, hauling in 93 catches for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns, earning his first Pro Bowl and second-team All-Pro bids. Also, the 25-year-old would immediately be the Raiders’ best wide receiver and fits in with the youth movement this offseason, while the soon-to-be 29-year-old Crosby doesn’t. Additionally, Broaddus didn’t specify what year the first-round pick would be, but if it’s 2027, next year’s class is supposed to be loaded with talent.
Why the Raiders would NOT take the trade:
Moving on from the five-time Pro Bowler would leave Las Vegas’ defense with a significant lack of talent and a need on the edge. While Kwity Paye and Malcolm Koonce signed this offseason, Paye is more of a complementary piece, and Koonce is only on a one-year deal. So, giving up Crosby would solve one problem but create another. Also, Pickens is currently slated to play on the franchise tag, meaning the Raiders would have to act quickly to get a long-term deal done before the July 15 deadline. On top of that, while the wideout stayed out of the headlines last year, he garnered a reputation as a diva and wore out his welcome in three years with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Why the Cowboys would take the trade:
Dallas was reportedly interested in Crosby at the beginning of the offseason; the club just got outbid by the Baltimore Ravens. That was the result of the Cowboys having one of the worst defenses in the league last year after trading Micah Parsons right before the start of the season. Plus, their offense already has a No. 1 receiver in CeeDee Lamb, who has a streak of five consecutive 1,000-yard seasons and Pro Bowls. Adding the pass-rusher would improve one of the team’s biggest weaknesses while moving on from a player who is only under contract for one more year in exchange for someone who is signed through 2029.
Why the Cowboys would NOT take the trade:
Shortly after missing out on the Crosby sweepstakes back in March, Dallas traded for former Packers’ edge Rashan Gary. They also used a first-round pick on Malachi Lawrence and spent a second Donovan Ezeiruaku in 2025. Crosby is undoubtedly the best player of that bunch, but Jerry Jones and Co. have already made a significant investment at the position.
All of that being said, the biggest factor that could nix any Crosby trade between these two teams is that the Cowboys’ team doctor, Dr. Daniel Cooper, was on the Ravens’ panel that reviewed the defensive end’s surgically repaired knee before Baltimore decided to back out of that deal, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Of course, Cooper’s individual recommendation is not public knowledge, but it’s worth noting that Dallas wasn’t interested in reengaging negotiations with the Raiders after the Ravens deal fell through.
What say you? Would you take a first-round pick and Pickens from the Cowboys for Crosby? Vote in the poll below and sound off in the comments section below. If you don’t have a commenting account already, you’ll need to create one but the steps are pretty easy and it’s a seamless process. Also, we have full-time moderators to enforce the Community Guidelines.
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