dj moore
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Chicago Bears WR DJ Moore.
Even with the Las Vegas Raiders hiring Rob Leonard as defensive coordinator, the Maxx Crosby trade talk hasn’t slowed down. He hasn’t come out and requested anything, but he also hasn’t shut down the rumors completely.
Even if the Raiders have no intention of trading him, there are going to be many teams reaching out to them this offseason. It’s going to take a lot to convince Las Vegas even to listen. The Chicago Bears are one team that might be willing to pay a premium for the star pass rusher. ESPN’s Bill Barnwell floated the idea of the Bears trading for Crosby.
“The Bears have the 25th pick, and GM Ryan Poles hasn’t been shy about using draft picks to add talent,” Barnwell wrote. “Some of those moves have worked out better (Joe Thuney) than others (Chase Claypool). Montez Sweat lands somewhere in the middle as a solid, Pro Bowl-ceiling player who is getting paid to be a superstar edge rusher. He had 10 sacks last season, but the Bears were still only 29th in sack rate while blitzing at a rate just above league average.
“That’s partly because Poles’ other pass-rush moves haven’t panned out. Dayo Odeyingbo mustered only one sack and four knockdowns in eight games before tearing an Achilles, and $13 million of his $15.5 million base salary in 2026 is guaranteed. Grady Jarrett also has $13 million of his $14.3 million salary guaranteed next season, and he managed only 1.5 sacks and eight knockdowns in his first year with the Bears. Gervon Dexter Sr. and Austin Booker are useful players on rookie contracts, but the Bears still haven’t solved their pass-rush problem.”
What Would Bears Offer?
The Bears have to be willing to pay if they want Crosby. Luckily for them, the Raiders could have interest in some players on their roster.
The Bears have a very strong wide receiver corps, which led to DJ Moore having a down season statistically. He might be better off playing with a team that needs a No. 1. The trade that Barnwell pitched had the Raiders getting Moore and a 2026 first-round pick for Crosby and a 2027 fifth-round pick.
“Poles probably has to clear out some cash and cap to get a deal done. Enter Moore, whose four-year extension starts next season,” Barnwell wrote. “The Bears have already paid Moore a $20 million signing bonus as part of that deal, $23.5 million of Moore’s 2026 deal is already guaranteed, and $15.5 million of his 2027 compensation locks in if he is on the roster in mid-March. Any team acquiring Moore would essentially be signing to pay him $49 million over the next two years.”
Is This the Right Trade for the Raiders?
In this scenario, the Raiders get a No. 1 wide receiver and a first-round pick, which could be considered a win. While this is a solid offer, the team could possibly do better.
Would the Philadelphia Eagles be willing to send AJ Brown and a first-round pick for Crosby? Brown is a better wide receiver than Moore. Plus, the Eagles have a slightly higher draft pick.
If Crosby wants out, the Raiders could do worse than what Barnwell is proposing, but there’s a chance they could do better.