The Dallas Cowboys kicked off their 2026-27 season on a sour note, falling flat against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium in a deflating 28-20 loss on Sunday night. While their passing and rushing game definitely deserve some blame for that season-opening letdown, it’s impossible not to focus on the truly nonexistent pass rush. This defense generated just two pressures and two sacks against the Jaxson Dart-led Giants offense, per Next Gen Stats. Seriously? Two pressures? It’s clear Dallas needs a game-changing edge rusher and they need him yesterday.
Turns out, the Cowboys *were* looking for that guy. ESPN’s Ian Rapoport reported Dallas had their eyes set on the 28-year-old Las Vegas Raiders star defender Maxx Crosby before the season even started. But here’s the kicker: they weren’t “remotely close” to getting a deal done. Other teams like the Rams, Eagles, and 49ers were also monitoring the situation and interested, with the Rams reportedly being the “strongest club pushing for a deal.” So much for making a big move when you desperately need one.
Rapoport’s sources said those interested teams wanted “pennies on the dollars,” hoping the Raiders would just dump Crosby for cheap. Yeah, right. Las Vegas wasn’t having it, and that was a complete nonstarter. What’s even worse for Dallas? The Raiders then went out and secured a solid 27-13 win against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday afternoon. That win is absolutely not ideal for a Cowboys franchise that was probably rooting for an early-season demise from Las Vegas. Their best hope for getting Crosby might have just vanished.
The good news for Dallas fans is that in-season trades are a thing, and the Nov. 10 deadline is still a ways off. There’s still a slim pathway for them to break the bank and acquire the 69.5-sack career star if the Raiders somehow “spiral out of control” and contemplate a roster revamp. But until then, the Cowboys better figure out how to consistently reach opposing quarterbacks’ backfields. Because if they don’t, they’re going to keep getting carved up in the weeks to come.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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