Maxx Crosby to the Chicago Bears became one of the offseason’s hottest rumors. The Bears went to the best odds, +200, as of March 3rd. Fans obsessed with getting a much-needed pass rusher looked at Crosby as an answer who could propel Chicago to Super Bowl contention. Alas, it was not meant to be. The Baltimore Ravens on late Friday night agreed to deal 2026 and 2027 first-round picks to secure the elite quarterback pursuer.
Rumblings stirred throughout Friday that the Bears also offered two first-round picks. It looked like they were closing in on a trade, but then came the Ravens bombshell. Many Chicago enthusiasts expressed disappointment that once again their team failed to secure an elite sack master. On closer inspection, though, Baltimore winning out may be a blessing in disguise for the Bears.
Chicago, for the first time in ages, has a coach-quarterback connection that can win big. Ben Johnson achieved magnificence in his Bears rookie coaching season and developed a rapport with Caleb Williams. Chicago became one of the game’s most exciting teams, and a high-powered passing attack, especially late in games, drove it to a divisional title.
The Bears’ 2025 draft also played a huge role in the turnaround. General Manager Ryan Poles and Johnson found four high-achieving performers, Colston Loveland, Luther Burden III, Ozzy Trapilo, and Kyle Monangai. All played on the offensive side and helped turn it into one of the game’s most exciting by season’s end.
The draft is unquestionably the most proven way to build consistent winners. This becomes even more paramount when a franchise has multiple holes and recently lost big, like Chicago. While 2025 was a wonderful turnaround, it should not distract from the long-term plan of building heavily through the draft. Poles also has not been one to swing big in trades, especially when it comes to dealing away draft picks.
The Las Vegas Raiders insisted on a return much like the Dallas Cowboys received for Micah Parsons. The Green Bay Packers dealt away 2026 and 2027 first-round picks along with defensive tackle Kenny Clark. Parsons is two years younger than Crosby, but the Raiders held firm on their demand for multiple first-rounders and got it.
The Bears may have had two first-round picks on the table for Crosby, as some league sources indicate. The Ravens, picking 11 spots ahead of Chicago, swung the trade for Baltimore. It could be a case of the Ravens saving the Bears from mortgaging a high future cost rather than Chicago pulling back.
Regardless, the Bears didn’t give up multiple first-round picks, as they shouldn’t have for a player approaching 30. Poles and Johnson keep Chicago in play for the multiple options available through free agency, trades, and the draft.
Cincinnati Bengals Trey Hendrickson is the biggest name out of the available free agent pass rushers. He offers similar production to Crosby, with double-digit sacks in four of his last six seasons, including 17.5 in both 2023 and 2024. Health has been a recent issue as he missed a chunk of games last season, but he also won’t require trading away draft picks. The Bears will have strong competition for his services, but they should push hard to acquire him.
Cheaper options include the Philadelphia Eagles’ Jaelan Phillips and the Los Angeles Chargers’ Odafe Oweh. Phillips accumulated 73 total pressures with the Miami Dolphins and Eagles last season and has been a consistent six-to-eight sacks per season performer. Oweh broke out with a 10-sack season with Baltimore in 2024. He experienced a little dip in 2025, but still put up a solid seven and a half sacks with the Ravens and Chargers.
Chicago can look to trade, and an excellent option is available within its division. The Minnesota Vikings are open to dealing Pro Bowl pass rusher Jonathan Greenard for salary cap reasons. Indications are that the price would involve a second or third round pick. He collected double-digit sacks in 2023 and 2024. While injuries limited him last year, he still graded out as a high-level quarterback pursuer.
Many wonder if the Vikings would deal within the division; it’s a fair question to ask. Minnesota does have a recent history of intra-division trades; they traded twice in the 2022 draft, once each with the Detroit Lions and Packers. Also, in 2022, the Vikings acquired tight end T.J. Hockenson from the Lions for multiple draft picks. If the need is high and the return promising, Minnesota seems open to trading to a divisional rival. Bears should kick the tires on Greenard, especially if they can get a comparable talent to Crosby for a much lower price.
The 2026 NFL Draft is loaded with defensive end talent. Insiders indicate that there are ample high-end defensive edge playmakers, and other teams’ non-passing rushing needs should put several in play for Chicago at 25. The Missouri Tigers Zion Young, the Clemson Tigers T.J. Parker, and the Auburn Tigers Keldric Faulk are just a few. The Bears can land one and pair with a veteran talent they acquire through free agency and/or trade.
Chicago is a year ahead of what they were projected to finish last season; few saw them making the playoffs. The Bears are loaded with exciting young offensive talent due to outstanding 2025 drafting. Pursuing a similar course of action to attack the defense this year is the smart play. Not trading away the multiple first-round picks for Crosby keeps this as a viable option.
Poles accomplished strong work last week, creating cap room through the trades of D.J. Moore and the release of Tremaine Edmunds. The surprise retirement of Drew Dalman also opened cap space, and the deal for Garrett Bradbury was an under-the-radar move to address center. Getting a second-round pick for Moore was an exceptional return for the Bears, giving them ample ammunition to beef up the defense. Chicago has turned things around by emphasizing flexibility. Trading away big for Crosby would have eliminated much of the Bears’ maneuverability.
Crosby was the biggest name available to attack pass rusher, but he wasn’t the only option, not by a long shot. The Bears have multiple ways to fill the edge rusher position with more draft picks and cap space. The ample resources also allow them to address left tackle, safety, interior defensive line, and linebacker. Chicago can build a well-rounded roster ready to compete for championships next season and deep into the future. This made losing out to the Ravens in the Crosby sweepstakes a win in disguise.
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