Maxx Crosby to Chicago? Bears' Cap Relief Breathes New Life Into Potential Blockbuster Move
The Chicago Bears came into the 2026 offseason facing a familiar challenge: a tight salary cap and a long to-do list. With Spotrac projecting the team to be more than $10.6 million over the cap, GM Ryan Poles was staring down a tricky offseason, needing to re-sign key contributors while also trying to upgrade a roster that still has some glaring holes - particularly in the pass rush.
But as of Friday, the outlook just got a whole lot brighter.
According to reports, the NFL is projecting a 2026 salary cap between $301.2 million and $305.7 million per team - a significant jump from last year’s $279.2 million figure. That’s a game-changer for teams like the Bears, who were previously boxed in financially. And it could reopen the door to one of the most intriguing trade scenarios of the offseason: Maxx Crosby to Chicago.
Crosby’s Fit in Chicago: Obvious and Urgent
Let’s be clear - Maxx Crosby isn’t just a good player. He’s a game-wrecker, a tone-setter, and the kind of defensive presence that can instantly elevate a unit. The five-time Pro Bowler has been a consistent nightmare for opposing quarterbacks, and even in what some would call a “down year” in 2025, he still posted 10.0 sacks, 45 solo tackles, six passes defended, two forced fumbles, and an interception - all while missing time due to injury.
For a Bears defense that struggled to generate consistent pressure, Crosby would be a massive addition. Last season, only four Bears defenders - Montez Sweat (10.0), Gervon Dexter Sr.
(6.0), Austin Booker (4.5), and C.J. Gardner-Johnson (3.0) - recorded more than two sacks.
That’s not going to cut it in today’s NFL, especially in a division where quarterbacks like Jordan Love and Jared Goff are on the rise.
Crosby’s 53 pressures in 2025, per Pro Football Focus, were actually his lowest total in the past five seasons - and he still made the Pro Bowl. That tells you everything you need to know about the kind of impact he brings. Even when he’s not at his absolute best, he’s still one of the most disruptive forces in the league.
The Raiders' Situation: A Reset in Progress
The timing may be right for a deal. The Raiders are coming off a last-place finish in the AFC West and have already started reshaping their future, parting ways with head coach Pete Carroll. Things got particularly tense late in the season when reports surfaced that the team wanted to shut Crosby down with two games left, a move that didn’t sit well with the ultra-competitive edge rusher.
That kind of friction, combined with a new regime potentially looking to reset the roster, could make Crosby more available than he’s ever been. And for a Bears team that’s been looking for a true defensive centerpiece, the opportunity is hard to ignore.
The Money Side: Still Tricky, But Not Impossible
Of course, this isn’t Madden. Crosby’s contract is substantial - he carries a projected $35.8 million cap hit and has four years and over $116 million in cash left on his deal. Even with the new cap projections, that’s a lot of money for any team to absorb, especially one already in the red.
But the Bears have options. One path to clearing space would be moving on from some of their own high-priced veterans.
Trading wide receiver D.J. Moore and linebacker T.J.
Edwards after June 1 could free up roughly $33 million in cap space. That alone would put them in striking distance of absorbing Crosby’s deal - and that’s before any potential restructuring or backloading of a new deal.
Poles has shown he’s not afraid to get creative with the cap. He’ll need to be again if he wants to bring Crosby to Chicago.
Big Moves Build Contenders
Every offseason, there’s a moment where a team makes the leap - not just in talent, but in identity. The Bears have been slowly building toward that moment, and the NFL’s cap increase may have just accelerated the timeline.
Adding Crosby wouldn’t just patch a hole in the defense. It would send a message: the Bears aren’t just trying to compete - they’re trying to win big, and win now.
If Poles can pull this off, and if Las Vegas is truly ready to move on from their defensive cornerstone, this could be the kind of move that shifts the balance of power in the NFC. The Bears have the draft capital, the young core, and now - thanks to the cap bump - the financial flexibility to make it happen.
The window is open. Now it’s up to Chicago to step through it.