Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles now has a baseline from which to work if they figure out a way to pursue All-Pro defensive end Maxx Crosby in a trade.
A move still seems unlikely, but it is not impossible. The Los Angeles Rams’ blockbuster trade for Myles Garrett may have just established the benchmark for the possible cost of doing business.
It will not be cheap.
Bears Get Key Context for Potential Maxx Crosby Trade
Rams Trade Gives Bears Key Context for Maxx Crosby
The Bears and 29 other teams watched as the Rams dealt a first-round pick in 2027, along with a second in 2028, a third in 2029 and 2024 first-round pick Jared Verse to the Browns for Garrett. He is the reigning and two-time Defensive Player of the Year.
Garrett is older than Crosby, but he does not have the injury concerns that the latter has.
He has as many First Team All-Pro selections (5) as Crosby does Pro Bowls in their careers. Garrett also has a two-selection edge in Pro Bowls.
Crosby’s contract is pricier in terms of cap hits up until its final season. Crosby is signed through 2029 on a three-year, $106.5 million deal, while Garrett is locked in through 2030 on a four-year $160 million pact.
That only matters if the Bears are willing to create the space and part with the assets necessary.
The Bears have $11.2 million in space, per Over The Cap, while Crosby’s cap hit for 2026 is $35.8 million, a tally that can be worked around if both sides agree to it.
The Baltimore Ravens agreed to a package including two first-rounders before backing out of the deal. Whether or not the Raiders stick to that asking price or their insistence that they and Crosby have moved on from trade scenarios remains to be seen.
They have not generated a similar offer, and Garrett’s trade likely caps their potential return.
Bears Star Could Make Fitting Trade Candidate
The Bears could part with several players. One, two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Jaylon Johnson, stands out as a potential inclusion in a package for Crosby.
Johnson is signed through 2027 on a four-year, $76 million contract with cap hits of $24.5 million and $25 million over the next two seasons. The $15.5 million in savings would go a long way toward clearing enough space for Crosby, though more work would be necessary.
Johnson also lives and trains for part of the offseason in Las Vegas.
He drew attention for his absence from the first phase of the Bears’ offseason program. Johnson announced his presence following their most recent organized team activities.
The Bears will ultimately have to make a long-term decision about Johnson’s future in the next two seasons. He has already been candid about wanting a new deal. The team could get ahead of another round of contentious talks by including him in a trade for Crosby.
Other pricey veterans include Dayo Odeyingbo and T.J. Edwards, but they face injury concerns.
It seems especially unlikely, given that they already dealt DJ Moore to the Buffalo Bills, but the Bears also roster wide receiver Rome Odunze, who grew up in Las Vegas from the age of 3.
The Bears will notably face the Browns in their preseason opener, and the Eagles–who dealt A.J. Brown to the New England Patriots–in Week 3. Chicago will also host the Patriots in Week 7, and they could face off against Garrett and the Rams in the postseason for the second straight season.
Bears Face Intriguing Roster Question
Moving Johnson for Garrett in a trade would be a risky decision by the Bears. They are banking on Johnson and fellow starter Kyler Gordon returning to form to shore up their leaky pass defense. However, an argument can be made that addressing their pass rush is even more imperative.
Johnson played in seven games last season, starting six of those contests.
He has just one full regular-season slate to his credit since entering the league, which came in 2024. He has still become one of the more formidable players at his position.
The other part is whether the Raiders view adding a player like Johnson, who turned 27 in April, on anywhere close to the same plane as the Browns targeting the 24-year-old Verse. He can directly replace the player they lost. Swapping Johnson and Crosby does not do that, but may still resolve their greatest need.
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