Maxx Crosby edge rusher Las Vegas Raiders
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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JANUARY 04: Maxx Crosby #98 of the Las Vegas Raiders looks on prior to the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Allegiant Stadium on January 04, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
The Chicago Bears were in the mix to trade for Las Vegas Raiders superstar edge rusher Maxx Crosby before he was moved to the Baltimore Ravens, which itself was ultimately nixed on the grounds of a failed medical pertaining to Crosby’s injured knee.
In light of the failed move, Raiders general manager John Spytek reversed course and decided that the team’s plan is keep Crosby, especially considering the uncertainty surrounding the 28-year old’s injury.
This appeared to shut the door – mostly if not fully – on a move elsewhere, barring Vegas receiving some outrageous offer akin to that they obtained from Baltimore.
However, according to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, the Raiders could be open to moving Crosby at the trade deadline in early November.
Maxx Crosby Most Likely to be Traded Near the Deadline
“If there’s a window to trade Crosby, it’s probably closer to the trade deadline. As we’ve established, it wouldn’t make sense for Vegas to sell low here. But if Crosby plays well, and the Raiders are struggling through a rebuild in late October, then all of this can be revisited. It’s not like there wouldn’t be a market then, if things play out that way.” Breer wrote on Monday.
At that point, if the Raiders are struggling once more and the Bears are looking like contenders in the division, GM Ryan Poles could swoop in and make an offer for the two-time All-Pro defensive end.
Chicago would likely have to give up something at least coming close-ish to the two first round pick range; or perhaps a first rounder, second rounder and a player. But if the Bears see themselves becoming serious contenders to win the whole thing by adding an elite pass rusher off the edge, it would certainly be possibility that Poles and co. pull the trigger on the move
How Would the Bears Make a Crosby Trade Work Financially?
The finances are probably the biggest impediment to a trade later this year, if Crosby’s knee turns out to be fine.
The Bears currently lie last in the league in available cap space with just over $1 million available, so not exactly heaps of room to take aboard the former fourth round pick’s pricey $35 million per year deal.
However, the team could certainly get creative if they did pursue a trade in earnest. First, the Bears can save $16 million against the cap in 2026 if they trade edge rusher Dayo Odeyingbo after June 1st – a player who could well be used as part of the compensation package for Crosby, with the Raiders then absorbing his $15 million salary.
Chicago can also save $9 million by releasing or trading tight end Cole Kmet, who might be surplus to requirements mid-way through the season as 2025 first round pick Colston Loveland continues to develop and improve.
That would free up $25 million, which would be more than enough room for Bears to allocate for the first year of Crosby’s deal, given that big money extensions almost always tend to push the larger cap hits towards the back end of the contract.
This is just speculation at this point, but there is certainly a viable, salary cap-compliant route to the Bears acquiring Crosby, if they can make a deal with Las Vegas.