The NFL Scouting Combine is technically about 40-yard dashes and medical evaluations. In reality, it’s also one of the league’s biggest trade incubators. And this year, Maxx Crosby is hovering over Indianapolis like a storm cloud.
Crosby’s desire to be traded by the Raiders has injected real intrigue into Combine week. This is the place where conversations begin quietly in hotel lobbies, accelerate over steak dinners, and sometimes lay the groundwork for deals that detonate in March. The Chicago Bears enter the offseason armed with draft capital and are coming off a divisional-round appearance in Ben Johnson’s first season as head coach. And with the Bears having glaring needs along the defensive line, you can understand why the team has been mentioned as a potential suitor.
The Bears as a possible trade fit for Maxx Crosby shouldn’t surprise anyone. After all, Bears General Manager Ryan Poles has used the Combine as a launchpad in the past.
Blockbuster Trade Talks at the Combine: Nothing New for Ryan Poles and the Bears
Back in 2023, talks between the Bears and Panthers regarding the No. 1 overall pick gained steam in Indianapolis before culminating in the blockbuster deal that sent the top pick to Carolina for a haul that included DJ Moore and multiple premium selections. Those conversations began at the Combine and came to a head shortly after it closed up shop.
Now, ironically, Moore’s name is once again at the center of trade chatter — even though the receiver has made it clear he doesn’t want to go anywhere in 2026.
Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn ImagesEarly in the offseason, the framework of a deal centering around Maxx Crosby and DJ Moore that seems popular on social media sends Moore to Las Vegas to give the Raiders a veteran receiver for their presumed No. 1 overall pick (likely quarterback Fernando Mendoza). Meanwhile, Chicago lands Crosby to pair with Montez Sweat and fill the team’s need for a game-wrecking edge rusher. For what it’s worth, we’ve seen that framework offered up by ESPN’s Bill Barnwell and teammate Jeremy Fowler.
MORE: DJ Moore as a Maxx Crosby Trade Chip? | 4 Potential Trade Offers
However, not everyone sees a potential Maxx Crosby trade in this light. For instance, earlier in February, NFL on FOX insider Jay Glazer suggested it would take more than what Green Bay surrendered to acquire Micah Parsons. If you’ll recall, that package included two first-round picks and Kenny Clark. If that’s the true bar, Chicago should be out. That’s meaningfully more than what more recent projected price tags are hinting right now.
I wrote last month that I’m not a fan of a trade concept if it includes multiple premium picks. Moving Moore before June 1 would clear roughly $16.5 million in cap space. But that flexibility can also be created through restructures and bonus conversions without subtracting a core offensive piece.
Strip the names away and ask a simpler question: Does Moore, the No. 25 pick, and a mid-round sweetener land a player of Crosby’s caliber? Almost certainly not. And if you escalate it to include multiple first-rounders or a second-rounder, I’m even less interested from Chicago’s side.
Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn ImagesMaxx Crosby Trade Talks Could Heat Up in Indianapolis
From a football standpoint, the appeal is obvious. The Bears tied for last in pass rush win rate (28.8%) last season. Putting Maxx Crosby opposite of Montez Sweat changes the math for every NFC offensive line. It is the type of swing that signals true contender intent.
From a roster-building standpoint, though, there’s nuance.
Chicago has invested heavily in its offensive nucleus: Rome Odunze, Luther Burden III, Colston Loveland, and still Cole Kmet — all orbiting Caleb Williams. Moore has been the veteran stabilizer in that room since arriving in the 2023 trade. Removing him creates cap flexibility, yes, but also strips experience from a group built to grow together.
SO … CALEB WILLIAMS WENT ON MAXX CROSBY’S PODCAST
If the framework is Moore, No. 25, and a future third? That’s a conversation. If it climbs beyond that, particularly into multiple firsts or a second-rounder, I would be out on that.
Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn ImagesRegardless of where you land, the setting matters.
If Crosby is truly on the move, this is the week when groundwork gets laid. Front offices are in one place. Agents are in one place. Owners drift in and out. Momentum builds quickly in Indianapolis. We’ve seen it before.
If there is going to be a Maxx Crosby blockbuster, don’t be surprised if the first real domino tips this week.
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