Maxx Crosby trade the latest example of the Ravens crashing the Cowboys offseason plans
The Baltimore Ravens have once again proven to be the ultimate party crashers for Dallas fans by officially completing a blockbuster trade for Maxx Crosby. The Ravens sent a first-round pick in 2026 and a first-round pick in 2027 to the Las Vegas Raiders to secure the elite edge rusher. It just serves as the latest example where Ravens’ general manager Eric DeCosta is dialed in to the wish list of Cowboys’ fans.
The Cowboys were heavily linked to Crosby for a long time, going all the way back to last year’s trade deadline. The buzz picked up some intensity in recent days with rumors swirling that Jerry Jones was ready to make a massive splash to fix the defensive line. Fans were already photoshopping the star onto Crosby’s helmet, believing this was the missing piece for the defense. Unfortunately, while the Cowboys’ front office was trying to get a deal, Baltimore actually got one. It is a classic tale of Dallas flirtation ending in a Baltimore marriage, while fans are left looking out the window, watching from afar.
This frustration feels all too familiar for the Cowboys’ faithful, who just a couple of years ago were hoping that Derrick Henry would come to Dallas. With the running back room in need of a powerhouse, every fan from Arlington to Amarillo was begging the front office to bring the King home to Texas. Henry even lives in the Dallas area during the offseason, making the connection feel like a slam dunk. Instead, the Cowboys decided to stay frugal, ultimately deciding that a legendary power back was a luxury they simply could not afford.
Henry took his talents to Baltimore on a two-year, $30 million contract that made every Cowboys fan wince. Since joining the Ravens, he has remained a dominant force, eclipsing 3,500 yards in two seasons, including an astounding 32 touchdowns. He became the perfect engine for the Ravens’ offense, punishing defenders while the Cowboys watched Rico Dowdle’s most explosive run go for just 27 yards.
The pattern goes back even further to when the team was in search of a new safety, hoping to reel in former Seattle Seahawks’ All-Pro Earl Thomas. After he famously trotted up to former Cowboys’ head coach Jason Garrett and told him to come get him, the fanbase spent years tracking every flight and social media post for signs of a deal. It was the most public courtship we’ve seen in some time, and it seemed like only a matter of time before the Texas native joined his hometown team. But again, it was never meant to be.
The Ravens were more than happy to oblige, signing Thomas to a four-year, $55 million deal in 2019. During his time in Baltimore, he earned a Pro Bowl selection and helped anchor a defense that finished with the best record in the league that year. While his tenure there ended with some friction, he provided a year of quality safety play. It was the first example of Baltimore seeing a Dallas obsession and deciding to make it their own reality.
At the end of the day, it feels like every player the Cowboys fans truly covet eventually finds a home in Maryland. Sometimes these misses turn out to be a blessing in disguise when contracts age poorly, but other times it leaves the fanbase wondering what could have been. It is a strange cycle that suggests the Ravens’ scouts are just fans of the Cowboys’ rumor mill with a much higher credit limit. Maybe one day the Cowboys will finally get their man, but for now, fans will just have to keep watching our dream acquisitions play out in purple and black.
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