Maxx Crosby Bears Trade Rumors Bears News Maxx Crosby Bears
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Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby.
Maxx Crosby is no longer heading to the Baltimore Ravens, but it appears that the door has also closed on the Chicago Bears‘ chances of trading for him.
The Bears unexpectedly got a second chance at Crosby on March 10 when the Ravens backed out of their trade agreement with the Las Vegas Raiders to acquire the five-time Pro Bowl pass rusher for two first-round draft picks on the basis of a failed physical.
According to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, the Bears had serious interest in Crosby before the Raiders agreed to send him to the Ravens, even checking in with his doctor and Vegas’ medical staff about the meniscus surgery he underwent eight weeks ago.
Once the trade fell apart, many expected the Bears would re-engage their pursuit, but Crosby has since silenced the rumors with a definitive statement about his future.
“Everything Happens For A Reason,” Crosby wrote on X on March 11. “Believe Nothing You Hear & Half Of What You See. I’m A Raider. I’m Back. Run that Sh*t.”
No Harm in Bears Calling About Maxx Crosby Anyway
Crosby is sending strong signals that he is willing to stay put in Vegas after the Ravens pulled the plug on their trade, but that should not discourage the Bears from calling the Raiders to evaluate how the situation has changed in the last several days of chaos.
The Raiders might remain open to the idea of trading Crosby and his $38.29 million cap hit after spending more than $280 million over the first few days of free-agent negotiations. While they can technically make it work, the tight squeeze would limit their flexibility and also deprive them of a chance to acquire premium draft picks.
The question Chicago would most likely have is whether the price tag has come down. The Ravens had agreed to trade their 2027 first-round pick along with the 14th overall selection in 2026, a steep price tag that Bears GM Ryan Poles likely won’t want to pay. The Bears would need to package two first-rounders with more assets to match that.
If the Raiders decide they need to move Crosby’s contract to make their roster-building plan work, though, they may have no choice but to accept lower compensation after the way in which their agreed-upon deal with the Ravens fell apart. Other teams, such as the Bears, might feel more confident in their medical evaluations of Crosby’s knee, but it still provides them with leverage over the Raiders — especially if they need him out.
Draft-And-Develop Approach Remains Ideal for Bears
While a phone call to the Raiders about Crosby would be worthwhile, the Bears might still find that he is either unavailable or too expensive for their tastes to add in a trade.
The good news? The Bears don’t need Maxx Crosby to improve their pass rush in 2026.
The Bears did not make any heavy-hitting defensive line additions over the first three days of free-agent negotiations, handing out a two-year, $12 million contract to former Indianapolis Colts veteran nose tackle Neville Gallimore in their most significant move. They also re-signed backup Daniel Hardy and added veteran Kentavius Street for depth.
Fortunately for the Bears, draft analysts and scouts seem to agree it is a strong class for quality edge rushers and interior defenders, even if the latter position is a bit top-heavy. That should put them in a prime position to roll the dice on a few instant-impact talents in the first two rounds with the Nos. 25, 57 and 60 overall selections in their possession.