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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – DECEMBER 07: Maxx Crosby #98 of the Las Vegas Raiders takes the field prior to the game against the Denver Broncos at Allegiant Stadium on December 07, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Getty Images)

The Chicago Bears quickly became America’s sweetheart in the NFL last season as they won the NFC North and made a run to the NFC Divisional Round before falling in overtime to the Los Angeles Rams. They completed a remarkable turnaround under new head coach Ben Johnson and second-year quarterback Caleb Williams just one year removed from finishing 5-12.

Now, the Bears are looking to take the next step in their ascension towards the top of the NFL ranks. This offseason will be about bolstering the defense, which was Chicago’s achilles heel in plenty of games in 2025.

In a blockbuster trade pitch, NFL insider Jeremy Fowler of ESPN called for the Bears to trade for four time All-Pro edge rusher Maxx Crosby.

Here’s Fowler’s official pitch: Bears acquire Crosby, and in return, send the Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver DJ Moore, their 2026 first-round pick (No. 25), and their 2027 third-round pick.

 

Bears Acquire Crosby in Blockbuster Trade Pitch

Let’s break down the deal a little bit: Crosby would completely transform a Chicago defense that was in 22nd in sacks and 28th in run defense in the 2025 season. Crosby is an absolute wrecking ball who makes opposing QB’s lives incredibly difficult; he has 69.5 sacks in his seven year career.

And, as Fowler writes in his pitch, the Bears defensive line was tied for last in the NFL in pass rush win rate last season.

As far as money goes, Crosby still has three-years, $106.5 million left on his deal. Chicago sends DJ Moore to Vegas in this scenario, which takes his $16.5 million off the board, offsetting about half of Crosby’s AAV.

And Chicago should absolutely be willing to eat any money that comes with acquiring a player like Crosby. Players of his caliber are a diamond dozen; Micah Parsons, Myles Garrett, Trey Hendrickson, and Will Anderson are the players that come to mind in comparison.

 

Chicago Sends DJ Moore, Two Picks to Vegas

For Las Vegas, this deal is an absolute slam dunk. Crosby has already made the team very aware that he does not want to stay in Sin City any longer.

In losing Crosby, they would free up most of his massive deal, while getting an impact receiver in Moore back. Moore would be a perfect downfield threat for projected No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza to throw to in his rookie season and beyond.

In addition to Moore, the Raiders would also get the No. 25 overall pick, which they could use to upgrade any of the deficiencies on their roster, namely on the defensive line, where Crosby would leave a massive void.

All of a sudden, if Mendoza gets off to a good start, the Raiders team wouldn’t be half bad, if they draft well.

And for Chicago, losing Moore wouldn’t be the end of the world. They have two other young receivers who provide plenty of production in Rome Odunze and Luther Burden III, as well as an exciting young tight end in Colston Loveland.

Chicago has plenty of directions they could go in this offseason, but upgrading their defense should be priority No. 1, and Crosby would immediately make them much, much better.

Matt Skillings Matt Skillings is a Boston based sports journalist and a graduate of UMass Amherst, where he majored in journalism and communication. Matt covered the UMass men’s ice hockey team for three years for the Massachusetts Daily Collegian. He was also a media intern for the Harwich Mariners of the Cape Cod Baseball League for two summers. Matt has additional bylines with the New England Hockey Journal, the Boston Globe and MassLive. More about Matt Skillings

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