As the NFL world descends on Indianapolis for the 2026 Combine, one storyline is quietly threatening to explode: Maxx Crosby’s potential exit from Las Vegas — and whether the Chicago Bears are about to make their boldest move in years.
According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, this week could mark the true beginning of trade discussions involving the five-time Pro Bowl pass rusher. Not rumors. Not speculation. Real conversations.
“It is a big week for the Raiders and Maxx Crosby, who have been having conversations about his future,” Pelissero reported. “If there is a time to discuss a trade, it is this week here in Indianapolis.”
Translation: the door isn’t just cracked open — it’s being tested.
Crosby’s frustration in Las Vegas is no secret. League insiders point to his growing dissatisfaction with the Raiders’ constant turnover and instability. The situation worsened last season when the team shut him down with two games remaining — a move that reportedly didn’t sit well with the defensive star.
Now, with front offices gathered in one city and back-channel talks heating up, the timing couldn’t be more strategic.
While Pelissero didn’t name the Chicago Bears directly, he described the exact type of team that would make sense in a Crosby sweepstakes:
“A contender with a pass-rush need and cap space, or the ability to create it.”
That description fits Chicago almost perfectly.
The Bears have been frequently mentioned by analysts as a logical landing spot. They possess draft capital. They have a developing roster looking to accelerate its competitive timeline. And they’ve been vocal about wanting to strengthen the defensive front.
But here’s where things get complicated.
The price tag.
No one seems to agree on what Crosby would actually cost.
On February 16, ESPN’s Bill Barnwell proposed that Chicago send its 2026 first-round pick (No. 25 overall) and star wide receiver DJ Moore in exchange for Crosby and a 2027 fifth-rounder.
Four days later, ESPN insider Jeremy Fowler went even further — suggesting the Bears include the No. 25 pick, Moore, and a 2027 third-rounder for Crosby alone.
That’s a franchise-altering haul.
Meanwhile, Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer reported during Super Bowl Week that the Raiders wouldn’t accept anything less than what the Packers paid for Micah Parsons — a package reportedly involving two first-round picks and defensive tackle Kenny Clark.
Adam Schefter echoed similar expectations.
But not everyone is buying it.
Barnwell himself argued that comparing Crosby to Parsons may be unrealistic given age and résumé differences. And perhaps most notably, ESPN’s Courtney Cronin poured cold water on the idea that Chicago would even be willing to pay a premium.
“Something to pay attention to? Yes. Something that seems imminent or likely? I don’t think so,” Cronin said.
Her reasoning cuts to the core of the debate: Do the Bears truly see themselves as one elite edge rusher away from a Super Bowl — especially with a defensive-line-heavy draft class looming?
That philosophical question could determine everything.
For Las Vegas, the situation is equally delicate. Crosby remains one of the few foundational stars on the roster. Trading him would signal a dramatic pivot — possibly a full reset. Keeping him requires smoothing over frustration and convincing him that stability is finally coming.
The Combine is often where seismic moves begin quietly — in hotel suites, at private dinners, through subtle conversations between GMs.
And this week, all eyes are on whether those conversations turn into action.
One thing is clear: Maxx Crosby doesn’t grow on trees.
If the Raiders are truly willing to listen, the bidding could escalate fast. And if the Bears decide to go all-in, it would send a message across the NFC North that Chicago is done waiting.
For now, talks are just beginning.
But the temperature is rising.
And by the end of Combine week, we may know whether this is smoke — or the spark of the NFL’s next blockbuster trade.
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