Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams had quite the reaction to the Baltimore Ravens snagging defensive end Trey Hendrickson in free agency. After the Ravens decided against a blockbuster trade for Maxx Crosby with the Las Vegas Raiders, they shifted gears and signed Hendrickson, the former Cincinnati Bengals star, to a hefty four-year, $112 million deal. Williams seemed thrilled about the move, as evidenced by his comment on the NFL’s Instagram post announcing the signing.
Why the excitement from Williams? The Ravens stepping back from a Crosby trade opens the door for the Bears, who have been eyeing the Raiders' defensive powerhouse. After an unexpected 11-6 season and a trip to the Divisional Round, Chicago is keen to make a splash, and landing Crosby could be just the ticket.
Chicago's GM, Ryan Poles, has been busy this offseason. His first major move was trading wide receiver DJ Moore to the Buffalo Bills, which freed up cap space and brought in a second-round pick.
The Bears also strengthened their roster by acquiring veteran center Garrett Bradbury from the New England Patriots following Drew Dalman's retirement. On the defensive side, Poles added safety Coby Bryant from the Seahawks, corner Cam Lewis from the Bills, and defensive lineman Neville Gallimore.
However, the Bears are still in the market for more edge rushers, making the pursuit of Crosby all the more intriguing.
With the top free agents mostly settled, Poles might be especially driven to secure Crosby, a move that would undoubtedly please Williams and bolster Chicago's defense even further.