Three teams to keep an eye on when it comes to adding an impact edge rusher in 2026 are the Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles and Detroit Lions.
The Lions failed to make any improvements to their pass-rush this season. The Lions thought they were set with Al-Quadin Muhammad as their complement to Aidan Hutchinson, but the career backup has started to look like one after a hot start to the season and the Lions' pass-rush has suffered as a result.
The Cowboys traded Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers and have yet to make an addition that can even come close to replacing his sack production.
Rumors suggested the Cowboys were trying to add an edge rusher before the trade deadline, but that never came to fruition.
Philadelphia did manage to boost its edge-rusher group with the trade for Jaelan Phillips with the Miami Dolphins, but Phillips is going to be a free agent in 2026 and even if he's re-signed, the Eagles could use more juice.
One player all three teams will no doubt be keeping an eye on is Las Vegas Raiders star edge rusher Maxx Crosby, who was recently pegged as a trade candidate in 2026 by NFL Trade Rumors' Logan Ulrich.
The Raiders have been turning down trade interest in Crosby for two years now, including at the trade deadline in both 2024 and 2025. But eventually if the league keeps knocking, perhaps the door will crack open — especially because it’s looking more and more like Crosby will be playing for his fourth different head coach in four years in 2026. Crosby has seen just one winning season in seven years in Las Vegas, and the Raiders look poised for another rebuilding year in his eighth.
As Ulrich points out, the Raiders have not had any interest in trading Crosby, and it appears the veteran doesn't want to be moved, either.
However, after what has been another terrible season that has seen the team make zero progress under first-year head coach Pete Carroll, Crosby could very well change his stance and ask to be traded to a contending team.
If he does request a trade, it's fair to think the Raiders will oblige given the respect the franchise has for him, and with the team's desperate need for draft capital to assist in a rebuild.
We know the Cowboys made a play for Crosby ahead of the trade deadline, according to rumors, so they will certainly be in play for him.
The Lions don't have a great cap situation for 2026, but where there's a will there's a way and if the Lions fall flat on their faces in 2025, Detroit will be motivated to find a way to make it work in order to increase its Super Bowl chances.
With how aggressive general manager Howie Roseman is, there is no doubt he will be, at the very least, sniffing around for a blockbuster trade.
We need not look any further for evidence of that than the rumor that Roseman was willing to give up the farm for a Myles Garrett trade with the Cleveland Browns.
A package for Crosby could start with a first-round pick and go from there. The Cowboys have two in 2026, which puts them in a better position than the Eagles and Lions to land the Raiders star.
Another thing in the Cowboys' favor is the fact that their own first-round pick is on track to be higher than Detroit's and Philly's, which is going to make them a more attractive trade partner for the rebuilding Raiders.
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