Getty
Pass-rusher Jonathan Greenard of the Minnesota Vikings.
The Chicago Bears remain among the favorites to trade for Las Vegas Raiders star edge-rusher Maxx Crosby, but recent developments across the NFL have provided the franchise with multiple good alternatives that should cost significantly less.
One such option presented itself on Tuesday, March 3, when Jonathan Greenard requested a raise from the Minnesota Vikings, and that franchise subsequently made him available via the trade block.
“[The] Vikings are now open to trading Pro Bowl edge rusher Jonathan Greenard, per sources,” Adam Schefter of ESPN posted to X. “They would like to keep Greenard, but they also have salary cap issues they’re working through that have led to these trade conversations.”
Jeremy Fowler of ESPN followed up that report with Minnesota’s expected asking price for Greenard in trade.
“Teams I’ve talked to believe Minnesota wants a Day 2 pick for Greenard,” Fowler captioned a repost of Schefter’s news.
Maxx Crosby Trade Could Prove Too Expensive for Bears
Maxx Crosby Stats
GettyLas Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby.
Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated predicted on Tuesday that the Raiders will trade Crosby and suggested that he should end up in Chicago.
“Chicago would make the most sense to me,” Breer said on The MMQB. “They’ve got Montez Sweat on the other side. They were in the divisional round last year. They went toe-to-toe with the [Los Angeles] Rams. That’s a team that’s in the position to punch the accelerator and go for it.”
The Raiders, however, continue to ask for a trade package similar to what the Green Bay Packers paid the Dallas Cowboys for Micah Parsons last summer, which included two first-round picks and defensive tackle Kenny Clark.
Crosby is a five-time Pro Bowler, but he has also missed seven games due to injury over the past two years and will play next season at 29 years old.
Jonathan Greenard Put Up Strong Season for Vikings Despite Injuries in 2025
Jonathan Greenard, Vikings
GettyPass-rusher Jonathan Greenard of the Minnesota Vikings.
Greenard tallied 12 sacks and 18 tackles for loss in 2024 before a shoulder injury last season, which cost him five games and ended his campaign early due to surgery.
Greenard still posted 47 quarterback pressures in 12 contests last season, which comes out to just shy of roughly 68 pressures over a full season. He put up 12.5 and 12 sacks in 15 and 17 games, respectively, in 2023 with the Houston Texans and 2024 in Minnesota.
Greenard, will play next season at the age of 29 years. He has tallied 38 sacks and 60 tackles for loss over his six-year NFL career.
Meanwhile, the Bears finished last season with 35 sacks as a team. The defense was also bottom five in the league in pass rush win rate as well as quick pressures, defined as those that occur with 2.5 seconds after the snap.
Chicago holds the No. 25 pick in the upcoming NFL draft, which isn’t likely high enough to land a premium rookie edge-rusher from this class based on the projections of most prominent analysts. Thus, the team is liable to address its biggest deficiency either via free agency or a trade in March.