Maxx Crosby is going to be one of the most talked-about names this offseason-and for good reason. Since arriving in the NFL, he’s been a relentless force off the edge for the Las Vegas Raiders.
Over 110 games, Crosby has racked up 69.5 sacks, 164 quarterback hits, and 133 tackles for loss. That’s not just production-that’s sustained dominance.
For nearly a decade, he’s been right there in the conversation with the league’s elite pass rushers.
But here’s the twist: for all of Crosby’s individual brilliance, team success has been painfully elusive. The Raiders have made the playoffs just once during his tenure.
And the 2025 season? That was the low point.
Vegas finished with the worst record in the league and made the controversial decision to shut Crosby down before the season ended-despite his objections. To Crosby, it looked like a clear sign the team was tanking.
He wasn’t having it. He walked out of the facility, and that moment sparked a tidal wave of speculation: is Maxx Crosby finally ready to force his way out?
If he is, the line to acquire him is going to be long-and aggressive.
Edge rushers like Crosby don’t hit the market in their prime. It just doesn’t happen.
That’s why there’s a growing chorus in Chicago urging the Bears to make a move. The Bears, after all, have a glaring need.
They finished tied for the fifth-fewest sacks in the league this season with just 35. Montez Sweat, acquired midseason, led the way with 10.
No one else had more than six. For a team that made it to the divisional round, the lack of a consistent pass rush loomed large-and ultimately proved costly.
You don’t win Super Bowls without pressure. That’s not opinion-it’s history.
The idea? Pair Crosby with Sweat and give the Bears a fearsome one-two punch off the edge.
The cost? Likely a first-round pick and another high selection.
For context, the Packers gave up two first-rounders and Kenny Clark for Micah Parsons last offseason. Crosby, while a bit older, would still command a significant haul.
The question is: should the Bears pull the trigger?
History says proceed with caution.
Let’s look at the blueprint. Since 2000, six major trades have involved elite pass rushers being dealt for premium compensation. Here’s how those moves panned out:
- 2006 - John Abraham: Acquired for a 1st. Result: NFC Championship loss.
- 2008 - Jared Allen: 1st, two 3rds, and a 5th. Result: NFC Championship loss.
- 2009 - Richard Seymour: 1st. Result: 8-8, no playoffs.
- 2016 - Chandler Jones: 2nd and OG Jonathan Cooper. Result: Wild card loss.
- 2018 - Khalil Mack: 1st, 1st, 3rd, and 5th. Result: Wild card loss.
- 2021 - Von Miller: 2nd and 3rd. Result: Super Bowl win.
Only one of those trades ended in a Lombardi Trophy, and that was Von Miller joining a Rams team that already had a top-tier quarterback in Matthew Stafford. The others? Great players, real impact, but not enough to push their teams to the mountaintop.
That’s the key takeaway. These guys produced-no question.
But unless you’ve got the right infrastructure around them, especially at quarterback, the ceiling doesn’t change much. You’re better, but not necessarily a contender.
So what’s the smarter path for the Bears?
It might not be as flashy, but the answer lies in the draft or free agency. That’s how recent champions have built their pass rush. Look at the last ten Super Bowl winners:
- 2024 Eagles - Josh Sweat (Draft)
- 2023 & 2022 Chiefs - Chris Jones (Draft)
- 2021 Rams - Aaron Donald (Draft)
- 2020 Buccaneers - Jason Pierre-Paul (Free agency)
- 2019 Chiefs - Chris Jones (Draft)
- 2018 Patriots - Trey Flowers (Draft)
- 2017 Eagles - Brandon Graham (Draft)
- 2016 Patriots - Trey Flowers (Draft)
- 2015 Broncos - Von Miller (Draft)
Not one of those teams found their top pass rusher via trade. That’s not coincidence. That’s strategy.
The draft gives you cost control and long-term upside. Free agency gives you flexibility without sacrificing draft capital.
Trading for Crosby would mean giving up both: premium picks and a massive salary (Crosby carries a $35 million cap hit in 2026). That’s a tough pill to swallow, especially for a Bears team still building its foundation.
And let’s be honest-Chicago’s track record with pass rushers isn’t exactly sterling.
In the last 30 years, they’ve drafted just one edge rusher who produced more than 30 sacks in a Bears uniform: Alex Brown. Leonard Floyd got there, but only after leaving town.
The Bears have leaned heavily on veterans to fill the void-Julius Peppers, Khalil Mack, Montez Sweat. It’s been a revolving door of short-term solutions.
The underlying issue? Talent evaluation. Since 1990, Chicago has taken five edge rushers in the first round:
- Alonzo Spellman - Solid, but not elite. Taken over Robert Porcher.
- John Thierry - Bust.
- Michael Haynes - Bust.
Picked ahead of Calvin Pace.
- Shea McClellin - Bust.
Drafted over Chandler Jones.
- Leonard Floyd - Flashed talent, but peaked after leaving Chicago.
This isn’t just bad luck-it’s a systemic failure in scouting and development. And that’s the real issue GM Ryan Poles needs to fix.
Throwing picks at Maxx Crosby won’t solve it. At some point, the Bears have to trust their process, draft and develop their own guy, and stop chasing quick fixes.
This year’s draft class is deep on the defensive line. There are prospects with the traits, production, and upside to become the next great pass rusher in Chicago.
That’s the path the Bears need to walk. Not because Crosby isn’t worth admiring-he absolutely is-but because great team-building isn’t about splashy moves.
It’s about sustainable ones.
Maxx Crosby is a star. But stars don’t win Super Bowls on their own.
The Bears have a chance to build something lasting. That starts with getting it right in April-not mortgaging the future in February.