The Green Bay Packers are looking to retake the NFC North, with the long-standing heavyweights currently on the longest division-winning dry-spell.
The Packers last won the NFC North back in 2021, and since then all three of the Bears, Vikings and Lions have raised the division title.
And after some offseason moves and murmurings, it was looking like Green Bay – along with the other members of the North – could be in trouble as the Bears continued to be more and more linked with a move for Las Vegas Raiders‘ All-Pro edge rusher Maxx Crosby.
A move whose likelihood seemed to be strengthened on Thursday after Chicago traded D.J. Moore and a fifth round pick to the Buffalo Bills for a second rounder, dumping his large contract in the process. This gave the Bears both the cap space and additional draft capital to make a move for Crosby and also be able to pay him within the tight confines of the salary cap.
However, reports surfaced on Friday afternoon that the two-time All-Pro was being traded to the Baltimore Ravens for two first round picks, per Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero.
The #Raiders are trading star edge Maxx Crosby to the #Ravens for pick No. 14 and additional compensation, per me and @TomPelissero. A blockbuster.
A new home for Crosby and a true rebuild for Las Vegas.
“The #Raiders are trading star edge Maxx Crosby to the #Ravens for pick No. 14 and additional compensation, per me and TomPelissero. A blockbuster.” Rapoport wrote. “A new home for Crosby and a true rebuild for Las Vegas.”
The “additional compensation”, as it turned out, was another first round draft pick in 2027.
Packers Avoid Facing Maxx Crosby in Division
Although some believe that Chicago dodged a bullet by not obtaining Crosby by trade, due to the amount the team would have had to give up to acquire him, along with his vast 3 year $106.5 million extension signed last offseason, the 28-year old absolutely remains one of the premier game-wrecking forces in the NFL.
The Bears’ defense saw improvement from 2024 last season, and with a healthy secondary the only real area that could truly benefit from an upgrade is edge rusher. Crosby would have immediately eliminated that need had Chicago traded for him, with the team still having the ability to make moves to bolster other areas of the roster, courtesy of the additional second rounder from the Moore trade.
The Packers’ offensive line saw a dip in quality in 2025. And with the franchise likely set to see a change at left tackle in 2026, with Jordan Morgan the most probable person to take over from the almost-certainly-departing Rasheed Walker, facing the former Raider twice a season would not have been a nice ‘welcome to the starting lineup’ for the 2024 first round pick.
And whilst Green Bay is certainly about as hot on the heels of Chicago as any other team in the division, the North’s other teams are no doubt also smiling upon seeing the trade news.
Packers Breathe Sigh of Relief After Maxx Crosby’s Trade Outcome