With reports coming on March 6 of the Las Vegas Raiders agreeing to trade Maxx Crosby to the Baltimore Ravens, the Chicago Bears planned their free agency around the idea that they could not land the star pass rusher.
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Other teams operated the same way, which is why the Raiders found themselves in an ugly bind when the Ravens pulled out of the deal before it could be finalized on Wednesday.
On Friday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter suggested the Bears could not trade for Crosby because they didn’t have the money to pay Crosby’s near $35.5 million per year salary, calling the idea a “fantasy.”
“The Bears don’t have the money to make a move like that right now,” Schefter said.
“They cannot afford it.”
On Saturday, David Kaplan of ESPN 1000 suggested Schefter’s information came from his understanding of the Bears’ salary cap situation. Kaplan claimed that he’s hearing that Chicago can make a trade for Crosby if general manager Ryan Poles wants to make that move.
“So there is an uproar after Adam Schefter said the Bears are broke,” Kaplan posted on X. “Relax. After making calls here’s the scoop. That was in reference to salary cap situation. They have whatever they need financially if Poles wants to make a move. We will discuss on @ESPN1000 Monday at 6 a.m.”
So there is an uproar after Adam Schefter said the Bears are broke. Relax. After making calls here’s the scoop. That was in reference to salary cap situation. They have whatever they need financially if Poles wants to make a move. We will discuss on @ESPN1000 Monday at 6 a.m.
— David Kaplan (@thekapman) March 14, 2026
Per Over the Cap, the Bears have just over $1.4 million remaining in cap space after the first wave of free agency. Chicago still needs to budget for the upcoming draft.
Do the Chicago Bears want Raiders DE Maxx Crosby?
Jul 26, 2023; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) speaks during a press conference during training camp at the Intermountain Health Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Candice Ward-USA TODAY Sports
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Does that mean the Bears are out of a trade for Crosby? It’s up to Poles.
Chicago will still need to make moves with its cap space regardless of what happens with Crosby. Cap cuts could be coming, and the Bears will likely restructure contracts.
With that being said, Poles suggested earlier this week that it wasn’t in the Bears’ best interest to take a big swing at Crosby just days after the defensive end failed a physical with the Ravens.
“We’re always going to monitor every situation,” Poles said. “I mean, we checked into it and looked to see if it made sense, had some dialogue, but I’ll just leave it at that.”
Poles left it there. But maybe he’ll bring it back up next week.
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