If you were excited for the return of Dallas Cowboys football, Tuesday's training camp state of the union only added to the anticipation. Everything was smooth sailing for the first 10 minutes before Jerry Jones circled back to an earlier question about whether Dallas could make a move during training camp to improve the roster.
Without hesitation, Jones said he'd give up future capital for a "substantive" move. Jane Slater of NFL Network then asked the Cowboys' owner why the team potentially walked away from a Maxx Crosby trade earlier this offseason.
"We didn't [walk away]," Jones said. There's nothing more to elaborate on."
Jones was careful about his word choice to avoid breaking the NFL's tampering rules. He quickly acknowledged that Crosby is "completely a Raider" and "we shouldn't be having that conversation."
The 83-year-old was smart to hedge, but he already let the cat out of the bag. Just like that — before Dallas' first practice in Oxnard — Maxx Crosby trade speculation is alive and well again.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones reignited Maxx Crosby trade speculation
There's no reason to think the Cowboys and Raiders are actively engaged in trade talks, but Jones' admission that Dallas never walked away from a Crosby trade suggests the front office would revisit that interest if the opportunity arises.
By all accounts, the Cowboys finished as runners-up in the Crosby trade sweepstakes. The Raiders and Ravens agreed to a deal that would send Crosby to Baltimore for first-round picks in 2026 and 2027. However, the Ravens backed out of the deal, citing Crosby's failed physical and reservations about his surgically repaired knee. The trade was never made official, which allowed Baltimore to pull out.
Before that ensued, the Cowboys reportedly offered a first-round pick, a second-rounder, and more to Las Vegas. The "more" is open for interpretation. Some believe Osa Odighizuwa, later traded to the 49ers, was part of the package.
Regardless of the specifics, Dallas was willing to part with a lot, and they were in the mix before the Ravens offered two firsts.
Nothing ultimately materialized between Las Vegas and Dallas after the Ravens backed out, but this follow-up from insider Tom Pelissero is worth revisiting:
"There are teams that are going to be interested still in a Maxx Crosby trade, but there are a lot of things that they need to get answers on. Starting with the medical. I would specifically say, the other team that was in it at the end as we reported is the Dallas Cowboys. I am told the Dallas Cowboys would still be interested in a Maxx Crosby trade."
It's impossible to say what comes of any of this, but it sure sounds like Jerry Jones and the Cowboys are thinking about making a big move on defense. Based on Jones' stern clarification about Maxx Crosby, it's fair to assume he's still high on their wishlist.
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