newsweek
The Dallas Cowboys secured a vital victory over division rival Philadelphia Eagles on Monday night, but their defensive front still has significant room for improvement. Through seven games, Dallas has recorded just 10 sacks, tying for 27th in the league. The three edge rushers acquired in the offseason—Rashan Gary, Malachi Lawrence, and Von Miller—have contributed only 3.5 of those sacks combined.
This deficiency has led many Cowboys supporters to urge owner Jerry Jones to revisit a trade for Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby. Dallas pursued Crosby earlier this year, but the Raiders initially agreed to send him to the Baltimore Ravens—a deal that fell through due to concerns about his knee. However, the Raiders are reportedly still demanding two first-round picks, and the Cowboys have only their 2027 first- and second-round selections available after already trading away their 2028 second-rounder. Additionally, Crosby has managed just two sacks in seven games while dealing with the knee issue, raising questions about his effectiveness for the remainder of the season.
Key Analysis
ESPN's Matt Bowen and Jeremy Fowler believe Dallas should consider a more economical alternative. In their ranking of the top 25 trade-deadline candidates, the pair identified the Cowboys—along with the Chicago Bears, Cleveland Browns, and Buffalo Bills—as a suitable destination for Los Angeles Chargers edge rusher Khalil Mack. "Mack is productive and affordable," Fowler wrote. The Chargers paid Mack a $10 million signing bonus in March, so any team acquiring him would inherit only the prorated portion of his $8 million salary for the rest of his one-year contract. Fowler suggested that a return to the Bears would be a natural fit for the equivalent of a quality Day 3 pick.
Thus far, the Chargers have resisted trading players like Mack. The 35-year-old may no longer possess his former explosiveness, but the nine-time Pro Bowler compensates with power and counter moves. According to Pro Football Focus, he has recorded three sacks and 16 pressures in six games, and over the past three seasons, he has amassed 14.5 sacks and 83 pressures. His three sacks this season alone are nearly equal to the combined total of Gary, Lawrence, and Miller. Acquiring Mack would also avoid the steep cost of negotiating with the Raiders and would not require a long-term commitment for a team already lacking draft capital. Although the Chargers are the NFL's only winless team, Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer reported that they are not yet prepared to initiate a fire sale. Fowler estimates that a Mack trade would cost roughly a quality Day 3 pick.
Originally reported by newsweek.