The Chicago Bears‘ big ticket offseason item is likely to end up a pass-rusher, and they may be able to get their hands on one of the best in the NFL.
Maxx Crosby’s relationship with the Las Vegas Raiders deteriorated to at least some degree down the stretch of last season, as the team benched him against his wishes for the final two games and went on to finish with the worst record in the league.
NFL insider Jay Glazer told Yahoo Sports on Wednesday, February 4 that he expects the relationship between Crosby and the Raiders to end this offseason.
“Maxx Crosby’s time with the Raiders is most likely DONE, per @JayGlazer 👀,” Yahoo Sports reported.
The implication is that a trade will eventually materialize. And the cost, Glazer said, is going to be greater than the two first-round picks and three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kenny Clark that the Green Bay Packers forked over to the Dallas Cowboys in the deal for edge-rusher Micah Parsons.
Bears Would Probably Have to Overpay Raiders in Trade for Maxx Crosby
GettyLas Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby.
Bill Barnwell wrote in July 2025 that Crosby’s trade value exceeded a sole first-round pick, but that it fell shy of two.
“The 27-year-old missed five games [in the 2024] season, but before that point, he had stayed healthy while enduring the largest snap share of any other defender,” Barnwell said. “He ranks 14th in the league in pass rush win rate and 11th in pressure rate over the past three seasons, most of which has come without a secondary rusher to give opposing lines any pause.”
“Crosby is earning nearly $36 million per season on his new deal, which makes it tough to generate the sort of surplus value needed to land multiple first-round picks,” Barnwell added.
A Pro Bowler for the fifth consecutive season in 2025, Crosby finished the year with 28 tackles for loss in just 15 games played, which was second in the league behind defensive end Myles Garrett of the Cleveland Browns. Crosby also tallied 10 sacks.
Whatever Crosby’s true value is, the more or less league-wide interest in him if he comes available is going to push his trade cost higher, which means Chicago would likely have to overpay to acquire him.
Bears Could Target Trey Hendrickson, Top Free Agent Pass-Rusher on Market This Offseason
GettyCincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson.
Chicago’s other best option to add help off the edge is soon-to-be free agent Trey Hendrickson.
Jacob Infante of Windy City Gridiron predicted recently that the Bears will swing big on the 31-year-old defensive end coming off a down year, in which he missed 10 games and put up just four sacks.
“A four-time Pro Bowler with 61.0 sacks in 72 games with the Bengals, Hendrickson is pass-rushing lightning in a bottle,” Infante wrote. “He’s one of very few blue-chip players hitting the open market this offseason, and he plays at arguably the Bears’ biggest need. Pursuing him heavily should be a given, assuming they free up enough space.”
The case for Hendrickson over Crosby in Chicago is that Hendrickson won’t require the Bears to surrender any draft capital. His salary is also likely to come in somewhere around $25 million annually, while Crosby will cost about $10 million more per season.
Hendrickson tallied 17.5 sacks in both 2023 and 2024, leading the league in that category two seasons ago. He made four consecutive Pro Bowls before injuries hampered his 2025 campaign.
Crosby, on the other hand, is three years younger and a more complete player as a significantly better defender against the run than is Hendrickson.
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