With the trade deadline approaching fast, the Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby is caught in the mix. And according to NFL insider Tom Pelissero, the Raiders have made their stance about any potential trade clear to Crosby.

“The Raiders met with star DE Maxx Crosby today to let him know they aren’t shopping him and won’t trade him,” Pelissero wrote. “While other teams are interested, the Raiders aren’t interested in moving their best player, and Crosby wants to stay in Las Vegas.”

It’s really no shock that the Raiders want to keep Maxx Crosby no matter what. What’s actually surprising is that Crosby seems just as committed to staying. With the Raiders only a few bad games away from falling out of the playoff picture, his loyalty says a lot about how much he genuinely loves the city.

Crosby was picked by the Raiders in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL draft and didn’t take much time to grow into one of the league’s best pass rushers. He earned Pro Bowl nods in each of the past four NFL seasons, and the Raiders made sure he was rewarded for it when they gave him a three-year, $106.5 million extension that will keep him in Vegas till 2029.

All in all, it’s a big letdown for Cowboys Nation.

Cowboys could’ve really used Maxx Crosby

Well, that didn’t last long. Last night, reports came out that the Cowboys had reached out to the Raiders about a possible trade for Crosby. And just like that, the rumor died within 24 hours, killing hopes of Cowboys fans in the process. After all, Crosby would’ve been the perfect way to soften the blow of losing Micah Parsons.

On paper, Dallas looks better than Vegas. You could argue they’ve got the league’s top offense right now, with QB Dak Prescott playing to his potential. But that defense? A good display against the Washington Commanders isn’t going to change the fact that it has been terrible.

And going from one struggling defense to another isn’t exactly appealing. If Crosby ever did think about leaving the Raiders, he’d probably want to join a defense that’s already built to succeed. Somewhere, he doesn’t have to carry the entire load himself.

Over seven games this season, he has recorded 28 tackles and 10 tackles for loss, along with four sacks. Of course, one man can’t fix everything, but a player like Crosby could’ve been the spark to turn things around.