The Cowboys need a strong defense to be contenders. The Rams’ Super Bowl window is closing. This backdrop seems to be setting these two teams up for a bidding war to land one of the few players who can single-handedly transform a defense: Maxx Crosby.
Dallas’ defense was the worst in the 2015 NFL season. In stark contrast, the offense led by quarterback Dak Prescott was the best in the league. The lack of leadership on defense is Dallas’ bane.
Los Angeles, meanwhile, has missed the Super Bowl for three seasons. With Matthew Stafford nearing retirement, the team is searching for that final piece that will take them back to the Big Game.
According to analysts Andrew Siciliano, Charles Robinson, and Frank Schwab, the current Las Vegas Raiders star could solve both teams’ problems. This creates a highly volatile scenario for the offseason, which begins on March 11.
Crosby, Stafford, and the Rams’ Super Bowl window
In a recent episode of Inside the Coverage, NFL writer Frank Schwab said, “There’s only one team that really comes to mind,” when it comes to a trade for Crosby. “It’s the Los Angeles Rams, and for many reasons.”
Schwab explained that, in principle, the Rams have more salary cap space to acquire Crosby. But more than that:
Right now the Rams should be thinking, ‘We have a quarterback who just won MVP, but he’s 38 years old.’
From the franchise’s perspective, the analyst explained, they were the best team in the NFL and, with a little help, they would have been able to win the Week 16 game against Seattle, which guaranteed them home-field advantage in the NFC Championship Game.
“They are in a Super Bowl window where they should feel like they’re one of the two or three best teams in football,” Schwab asserted. “How do you maximize this? No pun intended, but you gotta make a move for Maxx Crosby.”
Crosby is the boost the Cowboys’ defense needs
NFL analyst Charles Robinson, for his part, noted that Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has been taking decisive steps to create salary cap space and secure his team’s future.
But beyond the administrative issues, “I think Maxx Crosby likes the Cowboys. I think he would play for the Cowboys,” Robinson said.
I think he is still a star-level player that is attractive to Jerry. There’s a leadership element that I think Jerry would love there.
He noted that, with their current roster, Dallas will have one of the toughest defenses to get past next season, and “it would be incredible” if they could also add Crosby.
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