Former MVP Cam Newton Questions Maxx Crosby’s Cowboys Decision
The Las Vegas Raiders are ramping things back up for the second half of the season following their bye week in Week 8. After the team’s blowout loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, there was a lot of speculation that the Raiders would start trading away veterans to accumulate draft picks and focus on a rebuild.
However, the team decided against making any significant changes. One big rumor that surfaced was that the Dallas Cowboys were interested in trading for star defensive end Maxx Crosby. He’s the Raiders’ most valuable asset right now, so they likely could’ve gotten at least two first-round picks if they dealt him.
Las Vegas came out and made it clear that they weren’t trading him, and Crosby’s camp leaked out that he didn’t want to get traded. Crosby is loyal to the Raiders, but some people don’t think that’s wise.
Former MVP quarterback Cam Newton questioned why Crosby would want to stay in Las Vegas when he could join a potential playoff team like the Cowboys.
“But understand, even in the offseason, Maxx Crosby has made it abundantly clear that he wants to do what? Win,” Newton said on ESPN’s “First Take.” “So now, he’s not going to win in Vegas because now you have another situation that keeps constantly coming up: ‘Why am I not in the playoffs?’
“OK, now you have an opportunity to get traded to a team that is potentially what you are looking for.”
Is Crosby Making a Mistake Being Loyal to Raiders?
Crosby has said in the past that he’d like to be a Raider for life. Though the team hasn’t won much during his time with them, they’ve always taken care of him from a contractual standpoint.
Owner Mark Davis loves Crosby, and it’d take a lot to convince him to approve any trade. That said, the star defensive end could apply pressure and request a trade. If that were to happen, Davis would have to at least consider his options.
For now, it sounds like Crosby will stay put, but it could be an interesting offseason if the Raiders continue to play poorly this season.
Cowboys Not Close to Any Deals
Even at 3-3-1, the Cowboys have been much better than anybody expected. The offense has been elite and arguably the best in the NFL.
The problem for them is that the defense is a mess. They had a star pass rusher, Micah Parsons, whom they decided to trade away. Perhaps they’re realizing now that keeping Parsons might have been what they needed to be contenders.
The Cowboys do sound keen on trading for a pass rusher, but owner Jerry Jones doesn’t seem confident that a deal will happen.
“There hasn’t been anything close to a deal,” Jones said on 105.3 The Fan. “We’re looking at all phases of our roster. … I don’t know if we will or not (make a trade). … I can tell you this right now, there is not a trade in my mind, the beginning and end of one, as we sit here and talk … that I would do.”
Seattle Seahawks Could Make Massive Trade for 320-Pound Starter
Halfway through the season, and almost everything is clicking for the Seattle Seahawks. The team is 5-2, first place in the NFC West, and boasts one of the best margins of victory in the NFL, defeating opponents by an average of 8.1 points per game. Despite Seattle’s impressive start, fans and analysts have consistently pointed out a few rough edges that could be addressed before the Nov. 4 trade deadline.
The most glaring issue is the interior offensive line. So far, rookie left guard Grey Zabel has lived up to his status as a first-round draft pick and looks like he could grow into a long-term foundational piece on Seattle’s offensive line. However, center Jalen Sundell and right guard Anthony Bradford have often struggled this season. Bradford, in particular, has been subject to criticism and rumors of benching. Deficiencies along the interior offensive line are partially why Seattle is gaining just 3.7 yards per carry, which ranks 27th in the league.
There are numerous players on the trade block who could upgrade Seattle’s offensive line, but one of the most intriguing, high-upside options is Raiders lineman Jackson Powers-Johnson. Given the obvious need, there’s a chance the Seahawks and GM John Schneider have already been in touch with old friend Pete Carroll about a possible deal.
What Powers-Johnson Brings to Seattle
The Raiders selected Powers-Johnson in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft at No. 44 overall. Early in his NFL career, JPJ has proven to be a versatile, mauling lineman who especially excels in the run game. He has the 14th-highest run-blocking grade of all eligible guards, according to PFF. It would be a dream pairing with OC Klint Kubiak’s run-heavy, play-action scheme. However, Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox says the Raiders have soured on Powers-Johnson and could be willing to trade him.
“After refusing to play the 22-year-old at center early in the season and forcing him to battle for a starting job, head coach Pete Carroll benched the 2024 second-round pick during Sunday’s blowout loss to the Kansas City Chiefs,” Knox writes. “While his early 2025 campaign hasn’t made a positive impact on Powers-Johnson’s trade value, his draft pedigree, college production and rookie tape are hard to ignore.”
Randy Gurzi, an NFL writer for Sports Illustrated, thinks Powers-Johnson could provide an immediate boost to Seattle’s offensive line. He writes, “Even this season, [Powers-Johnson is] still outperforming both Sundell and right guard Anthony Bradford, according to the analytical site.
“Seattle went into the offseason understanding they needed help on the offensive line. They made a huge investment by taking Zabel in Round 1, but they didn’t do much else. They could rectify that by calling their old coach to see what it would take to land Powers-Johnson, who has as much upside as anyone currently on the Seahawks’ offensive line.”
What the Trade Would Look Like
Even if Powers-Johnson has lost favor and playing time in Las Vegas, he remains a young, valuable asset. Knox suggests the appropriate trade value is a 2026 4th-round pick and/or a veteran cornerback. The Seahawks have fairly slim draft capital at the moment, with just six picks in 2026, but one of those is a fourth round.
Perhaps serendipitously, the Seahawks have allegedly been shopping veteran cornerback Riq Woolen for weeks. A straight-up swap could be on the table, but the Raiders would likely need to sign Woolen, currently on the last year of his rookie deal, to a long-term contract to make the trade worthwhile on their end.
Trading for Powers-Johnson would be a big swing for Seattle, but with Super Bowl aspirations mounting he could be the key piece to push them over the top.
