Breaking News: Dallas Cowboys’ Most Likely Blockbuster Trade Emerges in Latest NFL Rumors
DALLAS — The NFL trade deadline is set for Nov. 10, and the Dallas Cowboys are once again at the center of the rumor mill. After a disastrous 2-4 start to the 2026 season, owner and general manager Jerry Jones has publicly refused to wave the white flag, signaling that the franchise could be active buyers in the coming weeks . While multiple names have been linked to Dallas, the most persistent and plausible blockbuster rumor involves a familiar target: Las Vegas Raiders edge rusher Maxx Crosby.
Jones Keeps Door Open for Aggressive Move
Speaking at the NFL owners’ meetings in New York earlier this week, Jones made it clear that he is not ready to concede the season, despite Dallas sitting two games below .500 and fielding one of the league’s most porous defenses.
“I’ll be real clear, I could see being active at the trade deadline if it was something that could help the team this year,” Jones said . When asked directly if the Cowboys could become sellers, Jones initially dismissed the idea but left a notable caveat. “But I don’t rule it out now. If somebody comes along and offers you one of those deals, like the one I made a year or so ago, then it’s just too much” .
That reference to “the one I made a year or so ago” is telling. Dallas traded Micah Parsons to Green Bay in August 2025 for a package that included two first-round picks. Jones has shown he is willing to move a superstar if the price is right, but he has also spent the past year aggressively trading away draft capital to acquire veterans like Quinnen Williams, Joey Porter Jr., and George Pickens . The result has been a 2-4 record and a defense that ranks 30th in total defense and 25th in scoring defense .
Why Maxx Crosby Remains the “Big Fish”
The name that refuses to go away is Maxx Crosby. The five-time Pro Bowler has been linked to Dallas since the offseason, when the Cowboys reportedly made multiple offers for his services before a potential trade to Baltimore collapsed due to medical concerns . Now, with the Raiders sitting at 3-3 and the Cowboys desperate for pass-rush help, the rumors have resurfaced with renewed urgency.
NFL reporter Jason La Canfora recently identified Crosby as the “big fish” for Dallas, citing the strong relationship between Jones and Raiders owner Mark Davis. “Maxx Crosby is the big fish there with the Raiders, and trust me, Jerry has a very strong relationship with Raiders owner Mark Davis, and he’ll be talking to him too,” La Canfora said .
The football logic is difficult to argue with. Dallas has recorded just eight sacks through six games, tied for 27th in the league . Since trading Parsons, the Cowboys have been unable to generate consistent pressure off the edge, and Crosby would instantly transform a defense that has been gashed on the ground and through the air. Crosby remains under contract through 2029 on a lucrative extension, meaning any deal would likely require a significant package of draft picks and possibly a player .
The Contract Complication: George Pickens
Any blockbuster for Crosby would almost certainly require Dallas to part with premium assets. The most commonly discussed framework involves wide receiver George Pickens, who is playing the 2026 season on the franchise tag after failing to reach a long-term extension with the Cowboys .
Pickens was spectacular in 2025, recording 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns, but his future in Dallas is murky. The Cowboys already have CeeDee Lamb under a massive contract, and committing another huge sum to Pickens would strain the salary cap. Proposals have circulated that would send Pickens to a third team—such as the Tennessee Titans—with draft capital flowing to Las Vegas . However, trading Pickens would strip Dak Prescott of one of his most dangerous weapons on an offense that has scored just 29 combined points over the last two games .
The More Realistic Fallback: Josh Sweat
While Crosby represents the headline-grabbing move, league sources suggest a more pragmatic target may be emerging. ESPN insider Jeremy Fowler reported this week that anonymous NFL executives believe Arizona Cardinals edge rusher Josh Sweat would be a “perfect profile fit” for Dallas .
Sweat, 29, recorded a career-high 12 sacks in 2025 and has extensive experience in a system similar to what Cowboys defensive coordinator Christian Parker runs, dating back to their time together in Philadelphia . With Arizona sitting at 2-4 and unlikely to contend, Sweat could be available for a more modest return than Crosby. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and ESPN’s Adam Schefter have both cited Dallas as a potential landing spot for Sweat .
Fowler also noted that a source told him “a trade to aid the Cowboys defense is not a front-burner issue at the moment,” suggesting Dallas may be more cautious than Jones’s public comments indicate . The Cowboys hold only three picks in the 2027 draft, and after trading away multiple premium selections for Williams and Porter, the front office may be reluctant to empty the cupboard further.
The Division Factor
The strongest argument for Dallas buying rather than selling is the state of the NFC East. Despite their 2-4 record, the Cowboys are not buried. The Giants lead the division at 3-2-1, Philadelphia is also 2-4, and Washington sits at 1-4-1 . A three-game stretch against the Eagles, Cardinals, and Colts—all currently 2-4—could propel Dallas back into contention before the deadline .
“It gives me a lot of promise,” Jones said of the division race. “I see opportunity” .
That opportunity may be enough to convince Jones to make one more aggressive move. Whether it results in the seismic addition of Maxx Crosby or the more measured acquisition of Josh Sweat, the Cowboys appear poised to be active players before Nov. 10. For a franchise that has spent the past year mortgaging the future to win now, standing pat may be the one option Jones simply cannot accept.
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