The Chicago Bears may have won the NFC North in Ben Johnson’s first season, but many around the league still believe the team has one glaring weakness: a dominant edge rusher opposite Montez Sweat.
Now, one NFL analyst believes the Bears could eventually make a blockbuster move for Maxx Crosby if the Las Vegas Raiders continue leaning into a rebuild.
In a recent FanSided article highlighting one trade target for every NFL team after the draft, Jake Beckman linked Crosby to Chicago and argued the Bears have still not done enough to fix their pass rush problem despite an aggressive offseason.
“Going into free agency, the Bears needed a real and dominant defensive end, and they didn’t get one,” Beckman wrote. “Going into the draft, they still needed a real and dominant defensive end, and they still didn’t get one. Maxx Crosby is still out there.”
Bears Still Viewed as Missing Elite Pass Rusher
Chicago invested heavily in improving the offensive side of the ball this offseason around quarterback Caleb Williams and head coach Ben Johnson. The Bears also added defensive depth pieces. However, they never landed the true game-changing edge presence many fans expected.
That is why Crosby continues to surface in trade speculation.
The four-time Pro Bowler was nearly traded to the Baltimore Ravens earlier this offseason before the deal reportedly fell apart because of concerns surrounding his physical after knee surgery.
Beckman questioned whether that was the full story, but noted Crosby’s value could quickly explode again if he looks healthy early in the 2026 season.
“All that means is that Crosby’s value is going to skyrocket when he comes out on the field in Week 1 and gets back to his ol’ psycho-killer self,” Beckman wrote.
For the Bears, the logic is obvious.
Chicago already has one of the NFL’s better secondaries and added major offensive firepower this offseason. Pairing Crosby with Montez Sweat could potentially give defensive coordinator Dennis Allen one of the league’s most dangerous pass-rushing duos.
It would also fill the Bears biggest team need.
Raiders Could Face Tough Decision on Crosby
Even after the failed Ravens trade, Crosby’s future with Las Vegas still feels uncertain.
The Raiders are entering Year 1 of a major rebuild, and if the team struggles early in the season, contenders are expected to aggressively call about the star edge rusher before the trade deadline.
Former Raiders tight end Darren Waller recently spoke about the difficult situation Crosby is now facing after nearly leaving the organization.
“Then, for that to be completely halted and for him to go back to a team he was frustrated with, a team that had him on the trading block, that whole cycle just feels like a lot to deal with,” Waller said during an appearance on Yahoo Sports Daily.
While any potential trade would likely cost multiple premium draft picks, Beckman believes waiting may only make Crosby more expensive if he proves he is fully healthy again.
“The sooner a team trades for Crosby, the less they’re going to have to pay for him,” Beckman added.
For now, the Bears appear content with their current roster heading into training camp.
But if Chicago’s pass rush becomes an issue early in the season, speculation connecting the Bears to one of the NFL’s premier defensive stars likely will only continue to grow.
The Raiders will wait until his value is the highest to pull the trigger yet again.
For the Chicago Bears and general manager Ryan Poles, landing Maxx Crosby could completely transform Chicago’s defense and solidify the team as a serious Super Bowl favorite.
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