With the offseason underway, the Chicago Bears are a team receiving plenty of buzz after their incredible run to the playoffs, which nearly culminated in a thrilling overtime victory that would have sent them to the NFC Championship Game.
The offense looked impressive behind quarterback Caleb Williams in his sophomore season. He also benefited from a strong rushing game and the emergence of young threats in the receiving core, including Rome Odunze and Coleston Loveland.
However, the Bears’ defense was a glaring issue throughout their past season and even in the playoffs. While players stepped up to make big plays at times, it was clear this was a significant area the team needs to address if it wants to contend with the best the NFL has to offer.
That could change if a massive development comes to fruition, with the Bears landing defensive superstar Maxx Crosby.
According to the latest DraftKings betting odds, the Chicago Bears have become the favorites to land Crosby amid those ongoing trade rumors. It’s an interesting development, considering recent chatter about the Raiders being ready to move Crosby as early as this week.
It’s also interesting in that the odds moved considerably in favor of the Bears. Chicago was +650 yesterday in the list of prospective teams, and jumped to -145 earlier today, per Barstool Sports.
Recently, reports suggested that three other teams were keeping an eye on the Raiders’ defensive end’s availability. Those teams are the Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas Cowboys, and New England Patriots.
There was also some discussion among NFL analysts and television commentators that the Raiders could attempt to repair their relationship with Crosby, as rumors suggested a fractured relationship behind the scenes.
The five-time Pro Bowler was rumored to be unhappy with the team when they placed him on injured reserve late last season. That prevented Crosby from participating in his team’s final two games, despite reports that he wanted to play.
That said, it would be a significant development if Chicago landed a player of Crosby’s magnitude, as it would immediately give them a strong defensive presence they need to lead the team on the other side of the ball, while Williams excels on offense.
It remains to be seen if Crosby gets traded in the coming week or thereafter, or if the Raiders decide to keep him as part of their team along with their expected No. 1 pick, quarterback Fernando Mendoza.
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