Maxx Crosby Trade Buzz to Cowboys Reignites at 28 After Von Miller Signing

Q: If the Raiders' season collapses, will Jerry Jones finally execute a massive trade for Maxx Crosby?

Maybe, but the evidence still points to speculation rather than an impending move. The case for a future Cowboys push is real. Jerry Jones has publicly said he would use future draft assets for a “substantive” addition, and multiple reports say Dallas’ signing of Von Miller does not close the door on another major defensive move. Mike Florio has also said he would not be surprised if Dallas revisits Crosby if the Cowboys are contending and the Raiders are struggling by the trade deadline. There is also clear connective tissue behind the rumor. Crosby has a long mentor relationship with Miller, reacted positively to Miller’s Cowboys post, has Texas ties, and works in the same pass-rush training orbit as Dallas consultant B.T. Jordan. Those factors help explain why the chatter keeps resurfacing. But the harder evidence still cuts the other way. Crosby has said he wants to be with the Raiders and described himself as “exactly where I want to be.” Las Vegas has given no public sign that it is shopping him now, despite earlier offseason drama and the failed Ravens deal. The Raiders still appear to view him as a foundational defender. If the Raiders’ season collapses, Dallas would be a logical bidder and Jones could absolutely make the call. Whether he “finally executes” the trade depends less on Cowboys interest than on Las Vegas deciding to sell and on the asking price dropping to a level Dallas accepts. Right now, that scenario is plausible, not likely.

Q: Could three simple goat emojis actually trigger the biggest NFL blockbuster trade of the season?

No. Three goat emojis can fuel rumor cycles, but there is no evidence they are driving an imminent Maxx Crosby trade to Dallas. What the emojis did was revive an existing storyline. Crosby has long called Von Miller a mentor, has trained in overlapping offseason circles, and has Texas ties, so his Instagram reaction was widely read as respect between elite pass rushers more than a coded trade signal. Recent reporting consistently says the same thing: speculation is active, but real trade momentum is not. The Cowboys have created room for the chatter. They signed Miller to a one-year deal worth $5.5 million, potentially $7.5 million, and Jerry Jones has publicly said Dallas remains open to a “substantive” trade if the right opportunity appears. That means Miller’s arrival does not rule out a future pursuit of Crosby. It only keeps the possibility alive. The bigger obstacle is Las Vegas. Crosby remains the centerpiece of the Raiders’ defense, and there has been no public indication the team is shopping him now. Crosby has also said he is “exactly where I want to be,” and earlier trade noise appears tied to past tension and health concerns around his knee, not to a current push to leave. A blockbuster is more plausible later in the season than today. If Dallas is contending, the Raiders struggle, and Las Vegas reconsiders its timeline, Crosby could re-enter the market. For now, the emojis are a spark for speculation, not a sign a deal is close.

3 articles · Updated · Yahoo Sports · Aug 18

Three goat emojis from Maxx Crosby on Von Miller’s Cowboys post reignited talk that the 28-year-old Raiders star could eventually land in Dallas.
Miller’s move fueled the chatter because Crosby has called him a pass-rush mentor, and Crosby’s Texas ties and offseason work with Cowboys players already fed speculation.
No evidence points to an actual deal: Las Vegas has shown no sign it is shopping Crosby, who remains the centerpiece of the Raiders’ defense.
Dallas insider Bobby Belt said signing Miller would not automatically rule out a Crosby pursuit, but for now the Cowboys are focused on integrating their new veteran edge rusher.