The Maxx Crosby trade conversations are back, and the Dallas Cowboys are right in the middle of them as the NFL trade market heats up.

Superstars are already on the move. The Indianapolis Colts traded DeForest Buckner and Quenton Nelson, and the Tennessee Titans recently dealt Jeffery Simmons. More moves are expected before the trade deadline.

That brings us to the Las Vegas Raiders’ star edge rusher. Former Super Bowl winning scout and Cowboys insider Bryan Broaddus went on 105.3 The Fan and predicted Crosby would land with the Cowboys. Maybe Broaddus was just sharing a fun prediction. 

But it doesn’t sound like the kind of thing he says lightly. So I figured we could play around with the idea and look into some potential trade packages. 

To be clear, I’m not predicting Dallas lands Crosby in the end. I do expect the Cowboys to make some kind of move before the deadline, though. Whether that move is a swing this big remains to be seen, but I don’t see this front office sitting on its hands.

So what would it really take? Let’s break it down.

Setting the price for Maxx Crosby

I fired up the A to Z Sports trade simulator because it removes bias and forces you to think about what both teams want. Every player and every draft pick carries a value, and the goal is to land on a “fair trade.” The simulator tells you if it’s fair, leans a certain way, or a team “wins big.” A player’s value also depends on his contract. Players locked into long-term deals are worth more than players in a contract year.

According to the simulator, for instance, Crosby is worth 1,722 points.

Let’s get real about the price. When the Raiders struck a deal to send Crosby to the Baltimore Ravens, it was built around a couple of first-round picks. I don’t think Las Vegas gets that today. A player acquired midseason is worth less than one acquired in the offseason, and the Ravens are now out of the equation. Losing a major suitor shrinks the market.

That said, any offer has to start with a first-rounder. Let’s dive in, looking exclusively for “fair trade” offers per our simulator. 

3 trade offers for Maxx Crosby

Offer 1: The most straight forward one

• Cowboys get: EDGE Maxx Crosby  
• Raiders get: 2027 first-round pick, 2028 third-round pick

A 2027 first-rounder alone still leaves Dallas ahead by 333 points. Adding the Cowboys’ 2027 second-rounder swings the deal too far in the Raiders’ favor. Their 2028 third-rounder, however, is a 312-point asset that gets the deal to fair.

I’d do this one. It’s costly, and the Cowboys would only have a second-round pick in the first two days of the 2027 NFL Draft, but it

(I also tried swapping the Cowboys’ 2027 second-round pick for the Raiders’ 2028 second-round picks to get creative. That’s not the kind of trade you see in the NFL, so I scrapped it.)

Offer 2: The controversial one

• Cowboys get: EDGE Maxx Crosby  
• Raiders get: 2027 first-round pick, EDGE Donovan Ezeiruaku

Would you give up Ezeiruaku? This is where things get spicy.

I’d make this deal. Ezeiruaku has good pass-rushing numbers, but I don’t think he’s making enough of an impact in the run game nor is he finishing plays to keep you from pressing the button here. The deal would also appeal to Las Vegas. The Raiders are building for the future, and Ezeiruaku is a young player with three years left on his deal.

For Dallas, Crosby is a massive upgrade. You could complement him with Malachi Lawrence and Rashan Gary.

Then again, the Cowboys clearly like Ezeiruaku. Whenever a player gets involved in a trade proposal, controversy follows.

Offer 3: Raiders get two first-rounders

• Cowboys get: EDGE Maxx Crosby, Raiders’ 2027 second-round pick  
• Raiders get: 2027 first-round pick, 2028 first-round pick

Let’s say Las Vegas absolutely insists on two first-round picks. That might be the case, because I don’t think the Raiders give up Crosby easily.

Adding the 2028 first creates a 630-point gap in the Raiders’ favor. A 2027 third from Las Vegas doesn’t close it. Their 2027 second-rounder does, and the simulator calls it a fair trade.

In effect, Dallas trades down from the first round to the second in 2027. I don’t expect the Raiders to finish with a great record despite their 3-0 start earlier this year, so that pick should land early in the second round, and in a deep class that’s not terrible. You’re still giving up two firsts, but this could work for all parties involved.

Where will Crosby actually end up?

Here comes the bucket of iced water. On Kalshi, Crosby has a 78% chance of staying in Las Vegas or retiring. The San Francisco 49ers sit at 7%, the Minnesota Vikings at 5%, and Dallas at 3%.

Ultimately, I think Crosby ends up either staying put or headed elsewhere to a team with a bigger shot at winning it all. But hey, as for Dallas, 3% isn’t zero. And with Broaddus putting his name on this prediction, I’m not ruling anything out just yet.