A few days ago, Maxx Crosby went to the Ravens despite interest from the Dallas Cowboys. A powerhouse like Crosby would’ve been a massive move for Dallas, but with that no longer being the case, Jerry Jones has to set his sights on someone else. After leaking over 30 points a game in 2025, the team is in desperate need of defensive reinforcements. And that’s where one particular Eagles LB enters the picture.
“Look for the Cowboys to pursue Eagles linebacker Nakobe Dean in free agency. He knows Christian Parker’s scheme @DLLS_Cowboys,” Cowboys writer Clarence Hill Jr posted on X.
Under new defensive coordinator Christian Parker, the Cowboys are expected to go “all-in” during free agency to replenish a unit that struggled to find its identity last year. On Thursday, Cowboys insider Clarence Hill Jr. provided a concrete report connecting the team to the former Georgia standout.
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The Cowboys are attempting to fill a massive hole in the middle of their defense, but the primary risk with the Eagles’ Nakobe Dean is his extensive injury history rather than his on-field ability.
After struggling to stay healthy throughout his professional career, he appeared in just 47 of a possible 68 regular-season games over the past four seasons. The LB’s 2025 season was particularly hampered by a knee injury that cost him the first five games and a hamstring issue that sidelined him for the final two weeks of the year.
Despite his injury history, as an unrestricted free agent, Jones can acquire the linebacker without having to part with any of the franchise’s draft capital. Moreover, his performances speak for themselves.
When healthy, Dean has shown flashes of being the linebacker the Cowboys desperately need. Breaking out in 2024, he racked up a career-high 128 total tackles and 3.0 sacks while helping lead the Eagles to a Super Bowl LIX title.
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Despite his limited time on the field in 2025, he still managed to record a new career-high of 4.0 sacks in just 10 games, proving his effectiveness as a blitzing threat.
In total, his four-year tenure with the Eagles produced 7.5 sacks and 226 tackles, forcing three fumbles. Adding Dean to organize the middle of the field is exactly the type of move Parker’s multiple 3-4 scheme demands to get the defense back on track.
Well, bringing Dean to the team right now becomes extremely crucial, considering that the team failed to secure a blockbuster trade that involved Maxx Crosby.
Why did the Cowboys fail to secure Maxx Crosby?
The Dallas Cowboys made a strong push to sign perhaps the biggest star in free agency this year, but they ultimately lost out to a higher bidder.
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Although the Las Vegas Raiders tried to keep their five-time Pro Bowl pass rusher, Maxx Crosby, he decided it was time to move on from the only team he had ever played for. While he didn’t make a public scene, he let the Raiders know he would not be returning.
Jerry Jones and the Cowboys were very interested in bringing Crosby back to his home state, Texas, to fill a major gap on their defense. However, the Cowboys had a strict spending limit. While they made a serious offer, they weren’t willing to match the massive price tag that the Baltimore Ravens were comfortable paying, involving two first-round draft picks.
Ironically, the steep asking price of trade talks may have roots in the team’s own past move. Just last year, the franchise set a massive benchmark when they sent star pass rusher Micah Parsons away in a blockbuster deal that returned a veteran player along with two first-round picks from the Green Bay Packers.
KANSAS CITY, MO – NOVEMBER 29: Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby 98 warms up prior to the game against the Kansas City Chiefs on November 29th, 2024 at GEHA Field Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. Photo by William Purnell/Icon Sportswire NFL, American Football Herren, USA NOV 29 Raiders at Chiefs EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon2411290061
The Baltimore Ravens have assumed the remaining portion of Crosby’s three-year, $106.5 million contract extension. Under this agreement, the Ravens will pay an average of approximately $29 million per season, starting with a $30 million salary for the 2026 league year.
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On the other hand, the Cowboys have until Wednesday, the start of the new league year, to fix their finances.
They are allowed to “agree to terms” with new players right now at any price, as long as they clear enough space to officially fit those contracts under the limit by Wednesday’s deadline.
Fans should expect the Cowboys to focus on the linebacker position early this week, with reports that the team wants to bring in Nakobe Dean making the rounds.
This move makes sense because Dean likely won’t cost as much as other top linebackers, and he already knows the defensive system used by Cowboys assistant Christian Parker from their time together in Philadelphia, where Parker served as the Eagles’ defensive backs coach.
