The Dallas Cowboys made a huge push to trade for edge rusher Maxx Crosby from the Las Vegas Raiders, but they weren't able to get things across the finish line.
Bleacher Report's James Palmer reported that Dallas made a "very attractive offer" that featured a first-rounder, second-rounder, and more. Instead, the Raiders were able to get the 2026 and 2027 first-round picks from the Baltimore Ravens.
Despite being a gut punch to this fanbase, the Cowboys' dreams to bolster their pass rush aren't dead. General manager/owner Jerry Jones can still make a massive addition to the defensive side, which is why he should target free agent linebacker Devin Lloyd.
Cowboys Should Target Devin Lloyd in Free Agency
Linebacker was such a problem for the Cowboys' defense in 2025. Kenneth Murray Jr. and Logan Wilson proved to be headaches more often than not, which is why the Cowboys are letting them hit free agency.
Lloyd has been a starter for the Jaguars over the last four seasons and has been a stabilizing force in the middle of their defense. He's stout against the run and can find ways to take the football away. In addition, his Pro Football Focus grades will paint a clear picture of the impact he can have.
Season | Overall Grade | Run Defense Grade | Coverage Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
2022 | 48.3 (73rd among 84 graded LBs) | 66.8 (36th among 84 graded LBs) | 35.2 (80th among 84 graded LBs) |
2023 | 78.1 (16th among 83 graded LBs) | 90.3 (4th among 83 graded LBs) | 67.8 (32nd among 83 graded LBs) |
2024 | 76.7 (11th among 83 graded LBs) | 84.2 (10th among 83 graded LBs) | 62.6 (26th among 83 graded LBs) |
2025 | 89.1 (3rd among 88 graded LBs) | 83.2 (11th among 88 graded LBs) | 81.1 (3rd among 88 graded LBs) |
Over 63 career games, Lloyd has compiled 436 total tackles, 15 tackles for loss, 18 quarterback hits, 26 pass deflections, five fumble recoveries, and nine interceptions. In addition, he is coming off a Pro Bowl and Second-Team All-Pro campaign in 2025 with Jacksonville.
He'll be 28 years old when the 2026 season kicks off and is in the prime of his career. The former Utah standout would give the Cowboys an athletic defender at the second level for defensive coordinator Christian Parker, and could wear the green dot and be a staple of this defense.
Lloyd is expected to draw a ton of interest around the league and will get a hefty deal. Spotrac predicts that he will get a three-year, $60.4 million contract ($20.1 average annual salary). That would make him the second-highest paid linebacker in the NFL, only trailing San Francisco 49ers linebacker Fred Warner.
Although it would be a big-money deal, Lloyd would fill a massive hole for this defense. All the attention this offseason will be put into improving this defense. Linebacker is a spot that vastly needs improvement, and Lloyd would immediately change that.
With the money that Dallas saved by not landing Crosby, they could put that into Lloyd and still add a big-time ticket to this defense. They arguably had the worst LB play in 2025, and they can't afford to have that again.
Signing Lloyd is a huge step towards changing that and should be the Cowboys' focus once free agency opens.