Bears Emerge as Potential Suitor for Raiders' Star Maxx Crosby

With the Cowboys backing out, another NFC team has cleared cap space to pursue the five-time Pro Bowl pass rusher.

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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The Maxx Crosby trade saga continues, with the Las Vegas Raiders reportedly unwilling to lower their asking price for the star defensive end. While the Dallas Cowboys were previously close to a deal, other teams have now entered the fray, including the Chicago Bears. The Bears have cleared significant cap space this week, putting them in a strong position to potentially acquire Crosby, one of the league's premier pass rushers.

Why it matters

Crosby's potential departure from the Raiders would be a significant loss for the team, as he has been a dominant force on their defense for the past seven seasons. The Bears, meanwhile, are looking to bolster their defense and could make a splash by landing Crosby, who would immediately upgrade their pass rush.

The details

According to reports, the Cowboys were close to completing a trade for Crosby, but other teams stepped in and raised the asking price, leading Dallas to back out of the deal. The Bears have now emerged as a potential suitor, having cleared a significant amount of cap space this week with the retirement of Drew Dalman and the trade of DJ Moore.

  • On Thursday, NFL reporter Albert Breer noted that the Bears have cleared cap space, putting them in a position to pursue Crosby.
  • Earlier this week, the Cowboys were reportedly close to a deal for Crosby, but the trade fell through as other teams increased their offers.

The players

Maxx Crosby

A five-time Pro Bowl defensive end for the Las Vegas Raiders, Crosby is one of the best pass rushers in the NFL.

Chicago Bears

An NFC team that has cleared significant cap space this week, putting them in a strong position to potentially acquire Crosby.

Dallas Cowboys

An NFC team that was previously close to completing a trade for Crosby, but ultimately backed out of the deal as other teams increased their offers.

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What they’re saying

“Meanwhile, the Bears have cleared a bunch of cap room this week, with Drew Dalman retiring and DJ Moore traded. We'd mentioned earlier that they've shown some interest in Tyler Linderbaum and Maxx Crosby. Stay tuned.”

— Albert Breer, NFL reporter (Twitter)

“Things are moving fast re Maxx Crosby. Last night Dallas thought they were close to a deal but since then other teams have raised the ante and potentially are offering the Raiders 2 1st round picks Expected Dallas to now shift their focus to Trey Hendrickson.”

— Trey Wingo, NFL insider (Twitter)

What’s next

The Bears will need to decide if they are willing to meet the Raiders' high asking price for Crosby, who could significantly improve their defense if acquired.

The takeaway

The Maxx Crosby trade saga continues to evolve, with the Bears emerging as a potential suitor after the Cowboys backed out of a deal. This highlights the high demand for elite pass rushers in the NFL, and the Bears' willingness to clear cap space suggests they are serious about upgrading their defense through a potential Crosby acquisition.