Dallas has spent much of the past year circling Maxx Crosby without ever completing a deal. Now, after the Cowboys created more than $30 million in salary-cap space, one FOX personality believes the long-running pursuit could finally end with the Raidersstar in Texas.
Danny Parkins argued on First Things First that Dallas is entering exactly the kind of window in which sacrificing future draft capital can make sense.
Maxx Crosby speaks out after Raiders fire coach McDaniels
The Cowboys have a veteran quarterback in Dak Prescott, an aging owner in Jerry Jones and a championship drought stretching back to the 1995 season.
“If they think they’re losing [George] Pickens next year, then that means that this team is the most talented team they should have for a few years,” Parkins said.
“And that’s the exact situation, especially when you add in veteran quarterback, owner in his early 80s, 30+ year Super Bowl drought. That’s the exact situation to mortgage a little bit of the future.
“Like trade a draft pick to go get a player. So I think Maxx Crosby’s gonna be a Cowboy.”
The prediction came after Dallas reportedly restructured contracts for Kenny Clark, DaRon Bland and Jake Ferguson, creating roughly $19 million in additional room.
Cowboys already tried to land Crosby
Crosby isn’t a new name inside the Dallas rumor mill. The Cowboys previously explored deals for the five-time Pro Bowler, including talks with Las Vegas last season.
Their interest persisted into this year, when Crosby was again the subject of trade discussions before a potential move elsewhere reportedly fell apart following a physical.
That history matters because Dallas has already demonstrated a willingness to pay heavily for defensive help.
The Cowboys ultimately acquired Quinnen Williams in another major deal, but Crosby would fill a different need as a game-changing edge rusher.
He remains one of the NFL’s most productive defensive players, finishing last season with 10 sacks, 28 tackles for loss, 73 total tackles, two forced fumbles and an interception despite playing 15 games.
Former Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher has also suggested Dallas would find a way to make the finances work if Jones truly decided Crosby was the target.
“If they want him bad enough, Jerry will find a way to get him,” Urlacher said.
Las Vegas still controls biggest variable
Any move still depends on the Raiders becoming willing sellers. Crosby remains under contract with Las Vegas, and there is no indication that a trade is imminent.
The equation could change quickly, though, if the Raiders struggle again after finishing 3-14 last season.
Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk has suggested Las Vegas could eventually decide to “get value for him” rather than hold onto a star player through another losing season.
That scenario would likely put Dallas back in the conversation immediately.
The Cowboys have already added veteran Von Miller, but Crosby would give them a younger, elite pass rusher capable of changing the structure of the entire defense.
Dallas also owns future first-round capital it could use if the front office decides this roster is close enough to justify an aggressive move.
Parkins isn’t predicting a minor deadline addition. He’s predicting Dallas finally finishes a pursuit that has already survived multiple rounds of trade speculation.