The Chicago Bears are no strangers to trade rumors. For that matter, they are no strangers to making high-profile trades in the offseason either. As soon as Chicago fell to the Los Angeles Rams in the NFL Playoffs, there were rumblings that they could target disgruntled pass rusher Maxx Crosby of the Las Vegas Raiders in a trade. In March of 2023, they acquired wide receiver DJ Moore and the pick that would result in Caleb Williams from the Carolina Panthers.
Much has changed since that 2023 trade, most notably that the Bears are finally contenders in the NFC and are coming off an 11-6 season that saw them win their division. And in order for them to take the next step to Super Bowl contention, one NFL analyst thinks they could land Crosby for Moore.
NFL trade proposal sees the Chicago Bears get Maxx Crosby for DJ Moore
Jan 10, 2026; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears wide receiver DJ Moore (2) makes the eventual game winning touchdown catch against the Green Bay Packers during the second half of an NFC Wild Card Round game at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
In a recent article posted by ESPN, analyst Bill Barnwell suggested that Chicago could send Moore and their 2026 first round draft pick to the Raiders for Crosby and a 2027 fifth round pick.
He wrote, in part:
“The Bears have the 25th pick, and GM Ryan Poles hasn’t been shy about using draft picks to add talent. Some of those moves have worked out better (Joe Thuney) than others (Chase Claypool). Montez Sweat lands somewhere in the middle as a solid, Pro Bowl-ceiling player who is getting paid to be a superstar edge rusher. He had 10 sacks last season, but the Bears were still only 29th in sack rate while blitzing at a rate just above league average.
“Poles probably has to clear out some cash and cap to get a deal [for Crosby] done. Enter Moore, whose four-year extension starts next season. The Bears have already paid Moore a $20 million signing bonus as part of that deal, $23.5 million of Moore’s 2026 deal is already guaranteed, and $15.5 million of his 2027 compensation locks in if he is on the roster in mid-March. Any team acquiring Moore would essentially be signing to pay him $49 million over the next two years.
“Is that a good deal? It depends on which version of Moore that team is getting. His role was significantly diminished in Ben Johnson’s first year in charge, setting career lows in targets (85), receptions (50) and receiving yards (682). Moore averaged just 1.3 yards per route run. But he also racked up 2,330 yards and 14 touchdowns from 2023 to 2024 in what might charitably be described as broken offenses. He turns 29 in April, so the drop from 1,364 yards in 2023 to 682 yards in 2025 has to be worrying, but Moore managed 116 yards and two touchdowns during Chicago’s playoff run.
“I’m not sure Johnson really loves Moore.”
As Bears fans are well-aware, the pass rush is an issue the team needs to address this season, hence why Crosby rumors have been so prevalent. And since the Raiders are re-building (again), they may be motivated by the addition of Moore and another first round pick.
But what is really interesting about Barnwell’s assessment of his own proposal is the evidence that Moore may not really have much of a role in Ben Johnson’s offense. Additionally, tight end Colston Loveland has emerged as one of Williams’ favorite targets in the passing game.
What makes Moore an intriguing idea for the Raiders, too, is that, should they decided to release him after the 2026 NFL season, they would save $20 million on their salary cap.
All this being said, the Crosby saga in Las Vegas is far from over. At this point, it is anyone’s guess as to how it will end.
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