The Dallas Cowboys, currently second in the NFC East, have a lot to consider before the Nov. 10 trade deadline. After making deals for Joey Porter Jr. and Quinnen Williams, Dallas has already depleted its stockpile of future draft picks, leaving it with just four selections in the upcoming draft.

But should the Cowboys give up even more? Aqib Talib certainly thinks so. The Super Bowl-winning cornerback wants Dallas to pursue a five-time Pro Bowler, even if it means parting with more future first-round picks and setting back its long-term plans.

Aqib Talib Tells Jerry Jones To Pursue Maxx Crosby

Speaking on the “Gridiron” podcast, Talib made Crosby his preferred choice to fix Dallas’ defensive problems.

“I think Jerry should stick to plan A. Go get Maxx Crosby, man,”Talib said.

He believes adding a player like Crosby could give the defense a much-needed jolt and give a frustrated locker room something to rally around. “He’ll bring great, just energy, revitalized energy to the defense,” Talib said.

He also pointed to Crosby’s ability to stop the run and pressure quarterbacks, and pictured the edge rusher joining a defense that already features Porter Jr. and Williams, giving Dallas another established playmaker who can change a game.

The Cowboys’ current standing makes the appeal easy to understand. Entering Week 8, Dallas ranks last in the league with a PFN Defense Impact Score of 61.4.

“You bring in Crosby, it’ll kind of hit a reset button,” Talib continued.

Talib made the case for Dallas to part with premium picks for Crosby because he believes the franchise already has the crucial pieces of a contender in place. The Cowboys have their quarterback and an offense he believes is good enough to compete for a title. Now, he wants Jones to build a defense that can keep up.

“He’s very quietly having a great season… If it takes two of them [first-round picks], man, look, forget the picks because you in the win-now window,” Talib added.

He also argued that Dallas could get some of those first-round picks back by trading players if a rebuild becomes necessary down the road. It’s a risky approach, since there’s no guarantee of getting equal value in return, but Talib believes the current opportunity is worth it.

Talib also sees a chance for the Cowboys to take control of the division. He pointed to Philadelphia’s injuries and the Giants’ rebuilding process as reasons for Dallas to make its move now.

“The NFC East might never be this bad again… You could crank up, win the East, get in the tournament, and be a dangerous team with Porter out there, Quinnen Williams, Maxx Crosby… So, man, hey, go all in right now,” Talib said. “How long is this window gonna be open?”

The question also extends to keeping the offense together. Talib discussed George Pickens’ future and the possibility of another franchise tag, knowing Dallas cannot keep all its playmakers forever.

Talib’s ideal scenario is to bring in Crosby without sacrificing the offensive firepower that makes this team a contender.

The Raiders reportedly passed on trading Crosby to Dallas in the offseason because the two sides couldn’t agree on his value, eventually accepting a better package from the Baltimore Ravens. If the Cowboys want another shot, they’ll likely have to pay more this time.

But can they do that without taking away from the offense they’re trying to build around?