FRISCO, Texas — Jerry Jones isn’t second-guessing the Baltimore Ravens. Following the stunning collapse of the Maxx Crosby trade due to a failed physical, the Cowboys owner stood firm on the importance of medical clearance—even as his own team doctor played a silent role in the drama that sent the star pass rusher back to Las Vegas.
The NFL landscape shifted for 24 hours when Baltimore appeared to land Crosby for a haul that included the 14th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. But the celebration in Maryland ended abruptly. Ravens doctors flagged Crosby’s left knee—the same one that required meniscus surgery in January—as a long-term liability. While critics blasted Baltimore for “cold feet,” Jones defended the move with the bluntness fans expect from the 83-year-old mogul.
“You have to pass a physical. You have to,” Jones told the Las Vegas Review-Journal. “We’ve never completed an agreement until the player passes a physical. That implies that your doctors, your trainers, and everybody involved gets to take a look at him. That goes with the territory.”
The Cowboys weren’t just bystanders. As the Ravens weighed the risk of Crosby’s degenerative knee issues, they reportedly consulted Cowboys surgeon Dr. Daniel Cooper. Cooper, a renowned specialist who recently handled Patrick Mahomes’ recovery, provided an assessment that likely sealed the trade’s fate. Dallas had its own skin in the game, having offered a package centered around the No. 12 and No. 20 picks before Baltimore originally won the bidding war.
“We would have basically had the same conditions with the physical. As you know, we were in on making an offer for him. So he would have come to Dallas, and we’ll all just guess what would have happened.”
— Jerry Jones, Dallas Cowboys Owner
Dallas didn’t wait around for Crosby to clear his medical hurdles. Once it became clear the Ravens were wavering, the Cowboys front office shifted gears, finalized a trade with the Green Bay Packers, and immediately signed Rashan Gary to a revised two-year, $32 million deal. Gary, 28, arrives in Frisco with $16 million fully guaranteed, providing the edge-rushing teeth the Cowboys lacked after the departure of veteran depth last season.
The stadium lights at AT&T Stadium will shine on a different star this fall. While Crosby remains a Raider for the 2026 campaign, the Cowboys secured a healthy, hungry Gary to bookend their defensive line. Vegas GM John Spytek has publicly welcomed Crosby back “like he never left,” but the trade market remains volatile as the draft approaches later this month.
Baltimore now holds onto its premium 2026 capital, potentially looking to the draft to find a younger, cheaper alternative to Crosby. For Dallas, the acquisition of Gary settles the defensive front, allowing them to focus their 20th overall pick on offensive line depth or a secondary playmaker. The fallout from this medical red flag will echo through the first round, as teams now question if Crosby’s relentless motor has finally taken its toll on his frame.
