The Chicago Bears have an opening to make an aggressive play for Maxx Crosby after the superstar defensive end told the Las Vegas Raiders in unequivocal terms that he is ready to move on.
Jason La Canfora of SportsBoom reported on Monday, February 9 a message that Crosby’s representation has been spreading around the NFL to teams that might be interested in surrendering what is sure to be a king’s ransom for his services via a trade.
Crosby’s representatives have begun informing high-ranking officials from other NFL teams that the All Pro, livid over being asked to sit out the end of the regular season despite believing he was healthy enough to play, will never suit up for the Raiders again and is intent on playing elsewhere in 2026.
However, those same executives, along with others involved in the market for top pass-rushers, are not thoroughly convinced that the Raiders will adhere to Crosby’s request and believe the team could ask for more in return for him than other clubs will be willing to part with.
How Much Is Too Much for Bears to Offer Raiders for Maxx Crosby?
GettyRaiders superstar pass-rusher Maxx Crosby.
Fox Sports Jay Glazer guessed last week that Crosby will cost more than the price of two first-round picks and defensive tackle Kenny Clark, which the Green Bay Packers paid the Dallas Cowboys in return for edge-rusher Micah Parsons in August 2025.
Chicago, if it acts aggressively, may be able to blow the Raiders away with an offer of two first-round picks (2026, 2027) and a fourth-round pick this year (No. 129 overall).
While that is essentially a full first-round pick higher than the market value Bill Barnwell of ESPN assigned Crosby heading into last season, that is the type of premium a team is going to need to pay to claw Crosby away from the Raiders and keep him out of the hands of the rest of the competition.
Chicago owns the No. 25 pick in the first round and one could reasonably expect the Bears to finish somewhere in the high-teens to mid-20s in next year’s draft, if not even lower than that, which takes some of the sting out of dropping two firsts and makes the overall transaction more palatable.
Such a move would pair Crosby with Bears defensive end Montez Sweat, who put up 10 sacks in 2025, and still leave Chicago with the Nos. 57 and 89 selections to address the safety position and the interior of the defensive line after revamping the offensive line and skill positions through free agency, trades and the draft last offseason.
Bears’ Pass-Rush Struggled Mightily Last Season, Needs Upgrade Like Maxx Crosby
GettyDefensive end Montez Sweat of the Chicago Bears.
Considering where Chicago’s defense was last year, both as a whole and with regards to the pass rush specifically, the Bears may be willing to pay more than most for Crosby’s services.
His acquisition would lock down the five-time Pro Bowler, now 28 years old, for the next four seasons — essentially carrying him through his prime. Crosby’s injury concerns are up over the past two years while his advanced metrics are down, per Pro Football Focus.
That said, he ended last season with 10 sacks in 15 games and finished second in the league with 28 tackles for loss behind only Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett.
Chicago tallied just 35 sacks as a team and finished 31st out of 32 defenses in pass-rush win rate last year at just 29 percent.
Bears Trade Pitch Secures Maxx Crosby Amid Raiders Ultimatum