The Chicago Bears have been tabbed as one of the top potential trade destinations for Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby, and a report surfaced on Monday that a deal could happen as soon as this week.
The Bears are in dire need of pass-rushing help, so Crosby seems like a natural fit. After all, the 28-year-old is a five-time Pro Bowler with four double-digit sack campaigns under his belt, including 10 sacks to go along with 73 tackles and 20 quarterback hits in 15 games this past season.
But the price to acquire Crosby would be exorbitant, and Lou Scataglia of Bear Goggles On feels that Chicago might be making a mistake if it swung a trade for the superstar.
“Firstly, the asking price could be two first-round picks. In today’s NFL, the way to sustain success is to draft and develop,” Scataglia wrote. “Some of the best teams in the NFL today are built through the NFL Draft, so parting with, potentially, two first-round picks would strip the front office’s ability to find blue-chip talent.”
The Dallas Cowboys received two first-round picks in exchange for Micah Parsons just before the start of last season, so Crosby would probably fetch a similar price.
That’s not the only reason why Scataglia thinks landing Crosby would be a mistake, either.
Would the Chicago Bears be making a mistake trading for Maxx Crosby?
Dec 8, 2022; Inglewood, California, USA; Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) reacts after a defensive play against the Los Angeles Rams during the second half at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
For Scataglia, the con of trading for Crosby would be two-fold. It’s not just the cost in terms of draft capital; it’s also what it would do to the Bears’ finances.
“Secondly, Chicago’s cap situation isn’t that great, as they are currently over the cap by about $6.5 million,” Scataglia added. “Unfortunately, the Bears simply aren’t flush with cap space like a team should be with a quarterback on his rookie deal.”
Crosby signed a three-year, $106.5 million extension with the Raiders last March, a deal that will take him through 2029. He carries a $35.8 million cap hit for 2026. The hit dips to $29.8 million in 2027, and there is an out in his contract after that season.
Clearly, Crosby would be expensive in every single aspect, which shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone. And let’s be honest: the Bears have now ascended to contender status, so in order to take that next step, they might have to pay a handsome price.
We’ll see if Chicago ultimately swings a deal for Crosby in the coming days or weeks.
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