Jerry Jones just brought the Maxx Crosby conversation back right before the start of Dallas Cowboys training camp
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said he didn’t want to stir the pot during training camp. It didn’t take him long to do so before bringing back the Maxx Crosby trade talk.
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones started Tuesday’s press conference to open training camp with a message: He did not plan to stir things up following what’s been the most quiet offseason for his team in years.
Shortly thereafter, he did. And in the process, he brought back the conversation about a potential trade for Las Vegas Raiders superstar Maxx Crosby.
Cowboys never walked away on Crosby
Jane Slater from NFL Network hit Jones with an unanswered question from earlier in the offseason. Why did the Cowboys, who made multiple offers to the Raiders for Crosby earlier in the offseason, walk away from him following the Raiders-Ravens trade fiasco that saw Crosby return to Las Vegas following his physical test in Baltimore.
“We didn’t [walk away from Maxx Crosby],” Jones told reporters. “There’s nothing more to elaborate on.”
Oh?
Jones quickly added “we shouldn’t have that conversation,” in what seemed like an attempt to avoid any tampering accusations. He also said Crosby is “completely a Raider” and that he is “happy as a Raider.”
What should fans take away from all this? Frankly, I don’t know. It could be Jones wanting to make some headlines to make up for the previously mentioned quietness of the offseason. It could be that the Cowboys are still interested. Or that they’re keeping tabs in case a door opens near the trade deadline.
Who knows with Jerry? The Crosby saga has been such a wild ride to the point I’m not sure the Raiders want to put him through all the drama again. But the most underrated aspect from Jones’ comments was the following.
“We understood his injury well,” Jones said. “We thought he could help us there.”
Though there’s room for interpretation, that sounds to me like the Cowboys weren’t surprised by the results from the physical Crosby took in Baltimore. So, does that mean the Cowboys are still willing to give up significant compensation for Crosby?
It’s worth mentioning since those offers in March, the Cowboys used a first-round pick on edge rusher Malachi Lawrence.
Cowboys willing to give up future picks
Adding a layer to this conversation was Jones’ comments from earlier in the press conference about using future picks to help this year’s team. Specifically Jones told reporters he’d be willing to use future picks to help the 2026 Cowboys because he feels “that good this team.”
“Yesterday, I talked about a situation with another team with another owner,” Jerry revealed.
Since things took a wild turn in Baltimore, Crosby has been committed to rehabbing and gearing up for the season as a Raider, leaving all the drama from his days on the trade block behind. The question becomes: Have the Raiders move on? And if not, are the Cowboys, who admittedly “did not walk away” from Crosby, still willing to acquire him?
My advice? Don’t get your hopes up. But it for sure doesn’t sound like the door is closed.