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How an NFC Rival Could Help The Chicago Bears Land De Maxx Crosby

Maxx Crosby Stats

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Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby recorded 73 total tackles, 10 sacks, two forced fumbles, and an interception in 2025.

The Chicago Bears have been rumored to be interested in Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby for weeks. Bears fans are practically sitting at the edge of their seat just waiting for news to break on ablockbuster trade. Chicago is now, in fact, the betting favorite to land the star pass rusher,according to DraftKings.

But not only would this move be expected cost the Bears significant draft compensation, but they would also have to pay the bulk of Crosby’s massive contract. The Raiders extended Crosby with a three-year, $106.5 million mega-deal last offseason. The Bears would have to be prepared to take on Crosby’s $29.8 million cap hit for 2027, according toSpotrac.

The Bears have also been rumored to be seeking a trade for wide receiver DJ Moore. Moving on from Moore could greatly help bridge the gap that adding Crosby would take on the team, both in the draft and financially.

DJ Moore’s Trade Value Is Increasing Because Of A.J. Brown

A.J. Brown trade

GettyESPN NFL Insider Peter Schrager reported that while A.J. Brown wasn’t being actively shopped, the Philadelphia Eagles would pick up the phone if interested teams reached out.

Moore has been listed as atrade candidate throughout the Bears’ offseason, and his value may be on the rise. This is due to the Philadelphia Eagles’ resistance to trade wide receiver A.J. Brown.

ESPN reporterDan Graziano reported that the Eagles’ asking price for Brown has been too high, and that he’s not sure if the team even wants to move off him at this point.

This affects Chicago because teams searching for a veteran wide receiver presence may now turn their attention to DJ Moore.

Kevin Fishbain and Dan Wiederer of The Athleticeven noted that, “If you’re in the A.J. Brown market and Philly moves him but you’re a team that loses out, DJ feels like a pretty comfortable fallback.”

Fishbain and Wiederer estimated that a fourth-round pick or a conditional third would probably be enough for the Bears to move off of Moore. But in the same respect, if an A.J. Brown deal were to get done before that, it would greatly influence Moore’s market value. Moore could garner even more in a trade once Brown is off the table.

Trading DJ Moore Also Provides the Bears With Financial Flexibility

DJ Moore Stats

GettyChicago Bears wide receiver DJ Moore averaged 13.6 yards per catch and caught six touchdown passes in 2025.

Moore’s tenure with the team has been trending downward since the Bears’ controversial end to the season. The miscommunication between him and quarterback Caleb Williams, which led to the costly overtime interception in the Divisional Round, has been well documented.

Wiederer expanded on this idea, reporting that others around the league believe that Moore and Williams’ lack of chemistry on the field.

“One opposing coach, who likens Moore toDeebo Samuel, sensed on tape that Moore and Williams didn’t have a strong connection,”Wiederer wrote.

Moore finished withcareer lowsin catches (50) and yards (682) in 2025, and trading him could also significantly help the Bears’ cap-space problems. The Bears currently have the eighth-least amount ofcap space in the NFL.According to Spotrac, if they trade Moore after June 1st, it would free up $24.5 million.

If the Bears stay patient and let Brown set the market, they could not only help boost their financial status but also walk away with more draft compensation than they intended. This would all help soften the toll that a Crosby trade could take, and make it all the more likely.

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