Maxx Crosby, Raiders
Getty
Pass-rusher Maxx Crosby of the Las Vegas Raiders.
The Chicago Bears are a natural fit for pass-rusher Maxx Crosby if the Las Vegas Raiders decide to trade him this offseason, and he might be more affordable than some prominent NFL insiders have predicted.
Bill Barnwell wrote on Monday, February 16 that projections from the likes of his ESPN colleague Adam Schefter and FOX Sports’ Jay Glazer that Crosby will go for more than Micah Parsons did last summer (two first-rounders and defensive tackle Kenny Clark) will ultimately end up inaccurate — even if that’s the line Raiders brass is feeding top insiders.
“Teams often have big asks before eventually settling for something short of their initial demands, but this sort of return wouldn’t be realistic,” Barnwell wrote. “Parsons was a 26-year-old at the end of his rookie deal and had three top-three finishes for Defensive Player of the Year. Crosby is two years older, is coming off back-to-back seasons impacted by injury and has never been a first-team All-Pro or finished higher than fourth in DPOY balloting.”
Crosby battled a high-ankle sprain two years ago, which contributed to five games missed in 2024. He sat out the final two contests of last season due to a meniscus injury, though not by choice. Crosby wanted to play, but the Raiders forced him out and cited his health.
That said, the two losses in Week 17 and 18 locked up the No. 1 pick for Las Vegas and caused a rift with Crosby that has led to his strong desire to depart the desert for greener pastures.
DJ Moore Trade for Maxx Crosby Offers Bears Perfect Scenario
GettyWide receiver DJ Moore of the Chicago Bears.
Barnwell suggested a trade between the Bears and Raiders that would flip wide receiver DJ Moore and a first-round pick in 2026 (No. 25 overall) to Las Vegas in return for Crosby and a fifth-rounder in 2027.
Chicago has not stated a desire or intention to move Moore, but he begins a four-year extension worth $110 million next season. The Bears are currently $5.3 million under the cap and can save $16.5 million and $20.5 million in the next two years, respectively, by trading Moore. That figure jumps to $24.5 million in 2027 and 2028.
Moore remains a quality starter, but he is somewhat redundant on Chicago’s roster, particularly as the highest-paid player in 2026. Because of that, the Bears may look to trade Moore regardless in an attempt to clear space for a pass-rusher like Trey Hendrickson in free agency, so including him as part of a deal to acquire Crosby makes perfect sense.
Bears’ Pass Rush Was Among Worst in NFL Last Season
Montez Sweat
GettyDefensive end Montez Sweat of the Chicago Bears.
Chicago’s pass rush likely is, and certainly should be, top of mind for the Bears this offseason after how poorly the defense was in that regard in 2025, despite of which the team still earned the No. 2 seed in the NFC playoffs, won a Wildcard game and lost to the Los Angeles Rams in overtime.
Warren Sharp laid out some of the issues the Bears defense faced last season via an X post Tuesday.
Warren Sharp
the Bears finished #2 in the NFC despite all of this
a lot they can improve on in 2026
Chicago was the worst team in the NFL in terms of quick pressures (less than 2.5 seconds). When rushing four, the Bears had a pressure rate below 30 percent, finishing 28th overall.
The defense also ended the season with only 35 sacks.