The Chicago Bears are staring at a pivotal offseason, and one position group stands out as a clear priority: edge rusher. While Montez Sweat delivered as advertised in 2025, racking up 10 sacks and anchoring the pass rush, the rest of the unit simply didn’t bring enough heat. If the Bears want to take the next step from playoff hopeful to legitimate contender, they need more firepower coming off the edge.
Enter Maxx Crosby.
The Las Vegas Raiders’ star pass rusher could become one of the most talked-about names on the trade market this offseason, and it’s not hard to see why he’d be a perfect fit in Chicago. Crosby is one of the most relentless and productive defensive players in the league-a five-time Pro Bowler with a motor that never cools and a résumé that stacks up with the best in the game.
There’s also some smoke around his situation in Vegas. Tensions reportedly flared between Crosby and the Raiders late last season, particularly over how the team handled a knee injury he was battling. Add in the larger frustration over the franchise’s inability to build a consistent winner around him, and it’s fair to wonder if both sides might be ready for a fresh start.
If that door opens, the Bears should be ready to walk through it-and fast.
Pairing Crosby with Sweat would instantly give Chicago one of the most feared edge duos in the NFL. Crosby has posted double-digit sacks in three of the last four seasons, led the league in tackles for loss in both 2022 and 2023, and just put up a career-best 28 tackles for loss in 2025. That’s not just production-it’s dominance.
And it’s exactly what Chicago’s defense needs.
The Bears made major strides in 2025, but they’re still a few pieces away from truly challenging the NFC’s elite. Adding a game-wrecker like Crosby would not only bolster the pass rush, it would open things up for the rest of the defense-freeing up linebackers, creating more turnover opportunities, and giving opposing quarterbacks something to worry about on every snap.
Chicago also has the resources to make a move. With three picks in the top 100 of April’s draft and a roster full of young, intriguing talent, the Bears have the flexibility to build a compelling trade package without gutting their future.
Of course, it’s still unclear whether the Raiders will actually make Crosby available. He’s under contract, and players of his caliber don’t hit the trade block often. But if the relationship between player and team continues to fray, and if Vegas decides it’s time to reset, the Bears should be among the first teams on the phone.
Because if Chicago wants to turn potential into postseason success, adding a game-changing pass rusher like Maxx Crosby might be the move that makes it all come together.