Bears Urged to Pursue Blockbuster Trade for Raiders Star Maxx Crosby

Analyst says adding the elite edge rusher would take Chicago's defense to another level.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 1:55pm

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A fractured, multi-perspective painting in bold, geometric shapes and colors, depicting the explosive movements of a football player rushing the passer.A cubist interpretation of an elite NFL pass rusher, highlighting the raw power and athleticism required to disrupt the quarterback.Chicago Today

CBS Sports analyst Garrett Podell is urging the Chicago Bears to pursue a blockbuster trade for Las Vegas Raiders star edge rusher Maxx Crosby. Crosby, a five-time Pro Bowler, would provide a major boost to the Bears' pass rush and help solidify their defense. The Bears have already expressed interest in Crosby, who was nearly traded to the Baltimore Ravens earlier this offseason before the deal fell through.

Why it matters

The Bears struggled to generate consistent pressure on opposing quarterbacks last season, recording just 35 sacks. Adding an elite edge rusher like Crosby would transform their defense and give them a formidable pass-rushing duo alongside Montez Sweat. This could be a game-changing move for the Bears as they look to improve on a disappointing 2025 campaign.

The details

Crosby, 28, has been one of the most productive edge rushers in the NFL since entering the league in 2019. He has recorded 69.5 sacks over the past four seasons, trailing only two-time Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett. Despite playing through a knee injury in 2025, Crosby still managed 10 sacks for the struggling Raiders. The Bears have already expressed interest in acquiring Crosby, with GM Ryan Poles confirming the team looked into a potential trade.

  • Crosby had meniscus surgery this offseason and is expected to be 'more than ready' by the start of training camp.
  • The Bears nearly traded for Crosby earlier this offseason, but the deal with the Ravens fell through due to concerns over his knee injury.

The players

Maxx Crosby

A five-time Pro Bowl edge rusher for the Las Vegas Raiders who has recorded 69.5 sacks over the past four seasons, trailing only Myles Garrett for the most in the NFL during that span.

Montez Sweat

The Bears' top edge rusher, who would form a formidable duo with Crosby if the team is able to acquire him.

Ryan Poles

The general manager of the Chicago Bears, who has confirmed the team looked into trading for Crosby earlier this offseason.

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What they’re saying

“Only two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year edge rusher Myles Garrett (509 quarterback pressures since 2019) has more quarterback pressures since 2019 than five-time Pro Bowl edge rusher Maxx Crosby (476) since he entered the league in 2019.”

— Garrett Podell, CBS Sports Analyst

“I've said before we're always going to monitor every situation. Sometimes it fits and it works with what you've got going on in terms of resources (salary cap, draft pick compensation), sometimes it doesn't. So we were involved. I mean, we checked into it. We looked to see if it made sense, had some dialogue. I'll just leave it at that.”

— Ryan Poles, General Manager, Chicago Bears

What’s next

The Bears will need to determine if they have the necessary resources, both in terms of salary cap space and draft capital, to acquire Crosby from the Raiders. If the two teams can agree on a trade package, the Bears would then need to work out a contract extension with Crosby, who is set to become a free agent after the 2023 season.

The takeaway

Adding an elite pass rusher like Maxx Crosby would be a game-changing move for the Bears, who struggled to generate consistent pressure on opposing quarterbacks last season. Pairing Crosby with Montez Sweat would give Chicago one of the most formidable edge-rushing duos in the NFL and significantly bolster their defense.