The Chicago Bears were one of the NFL’s biggest surprises in 2025.
With second-year franchise quarterback, Caleb Williams and first-year head coach and offensive guru, Ben Johnson leading the Bears to an NFC North title and playoff berth, Chicago sports fans have a lot to be excited about on the football front for the first-time since the club’s Super Bowl appearance nearly two decades ago.
With real expectations ahead for the Bears, a projected deal from ESPN’s Bill Barnwell, has the club making a huge swing for one of the NFL’s premier pass rushers in Las Vegas Raiders’ All-Pro, Maxx Crosby.
Barnwell’s projected deal has the Bears parting ways with wide receiver, DJ Moore and the 25th pick in this upcoming April’s 2026 NFL Draft in exchange for Crosby and a 2027 fifth-round selection from the Raiders.
If Bears’ general manager, Ryan Poles were to pull off the massive deal, Crosby would immediately turn the club’s biggest defensive weakness into a strength. The Bears ranked just 26th in the league in total sacks, bringing down the opposing team’s quarterback just 35 times this past season. The five-time Pro Bowl selection, Crosby, has secured 69.5 sacks during his seven seasons in the league after being a fourth-round selection during the 2019 NFL Draft by the Las Vegas Raiders.
With former Pro Bowl edge rusher, Montez Sweat set to start on one side of the Bears’ front seven in 2026, the opposite side is still a mystery for head coach, Ben Johnson. With incumbent pass rushers, Jeremiah Martin, Jamree Kromah, Austin Booker, and Dayo Odeyingbo totaling a combined 5.5 sacks this past season, the Bears will likely be eager to upgrade their front seven in hopes of improving on their successful 2025 season.
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