The Chicago Bears are reportedly keeping tabs on Maxx Crosby’s availability, according to Sports Illustrated’s Sr. NFL Reporter, Albert Breer. If a trade happens, it could come soon. But it will not be simple.

Breer made it clear this would require some careful handling. The Raiders do not want a public bidding war. Crosby does not want it known that he is shopping himself either. He has a strong bond with owner Mark Davis and sees himself as a Raider long term. The cleanest outcome would be a market forming quietly over the next week as teams sort out their cap space and roster plans.

That is where the Bears come in.

Chicago has the flexibility to explore a move like this. But flexibility and execution are two different things. Crosby will turn 29 in August. He has played seven seasons and has dealt with injuries that required surgery the past two years. He is still one of the NFL’s most productive edge rushers. Still, those factors matter when you are talking about premium draft capital.

The Raiders are not giving him away. The starting point likely begins with two first round picks. It could also require a player included in the deal. That is a serious commitment for any team including Chicago.

What Would This Mean for the Bears?

Ryan Poles has been aggressive when he believes the roster is ready for a leap. Adding Crosby would instantly change the Bears’ front seven. He is relentless, plays with edge, and would demand protection attention every snap. Pairing him with Montez Sweat would give Chicago a pass rush it has not had in years.

But this is not just about draft picks.

The Bears would have to make the cap work. Crosby is on a significant contract. Even with space available, Chicago would likely need to restructure deals or move money around to stay flexible for future extensions. That matters with a young core and a quarterback window that is just opening.

There is also timeline alignment. Crosby wants to win now. The Raiders may be turning toward a rookie quarterback and a longer build. The Bears believe they are closer. That difference in direction is why this possible deal has legs.

Still, two firsts and possibly a player is a heavy price. You are betting that Crosby remains elite into his early 30s. You are also sacrificing premium picks that could help build depth around your quarterback.

The interest makes sense. The cost makes it complicated.

If the Raiders decide this is the week to move him, the Bears will be one of the teams to watch closely.

My Take on the Crosby Smoke

Here’s where I land on this.

I believe the Bears are very interested. You do not “keep tabs” on a player like Maxx Crosby unless you are prepared to at least explore the cost. He is the type of defender who changes a defense overnight. Ryan Poles knows that.

But I do not think Chicago makes the splash.

If this turns into a bidding war that starts at two first-round picks and possibly a player, I think the Bears get outbid. There will be a team willing to push past the responsible number. There always is.

Poles is aggressive. We have seen that. He is willing to trade up, move capital, and take big swings when he believes the timing is right. But he is not Ryan Pace. He is not going to throw premium picks around without a firm line in place. Poles operates with a ceiling. Once the price crosses it, he walks.

That is where this likely ends.

It is also worth noting that Ian Cunningham is now gone. For years, Poles had that second voice in the room. That sounding board matters. Without it, the dynamic shifts a bit. Maybe that changes how far Chicago is willing to go. Maybe it does not. But it is different.

At the end of the day, I believe the Bears step out of the Crosby race. They protect their draft capital. And they continue building through the draft around their young core rather than pushing all in on one blockbuster move.

The Chicago Bears remain in a holding pattern on their stadium situation going into their fourth year. For the first time, it feels like there is actual movement, but the question is in which direction. The state of Indiana has made its interest in the Bears crystal clear for several months. They’ve already passed the necessary legislation to help fund any infrastructure costs the team needs in the event they choose to move to the northwest region of the state. There are also plenty of property tax incentives. All the Bears have to do is say yes.

However, the state of Illinois has finally moved after years of dragging its feet, putting the megaprojects bill on the House floor that would finally give the franchise property tax certainty they seek. No vote has taken place yet, but the feeling is that it will happen soon. Lots of fans and media believe the team will ultimately choose Indiana because of the generous offer it’s making. However, if the power brokers in the NFL have their way, they would prefer the Bears to stay in Illinois. Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune had the update.

Here’s what I can tell you: The league believes that progress is very much headed in the right direction in Illinois and that Arlington Heights will emerge as the team’s future home. It’s not done yet, but there’s reason for optimism and the preference at that level is for the Bears to remain in Illinois if possible.

The reasons for the Chicago Bears avoiding Indiana are easy to pinpoint.

For one, the team has been an Illinois institution for over a century. The Bears were founded in 1920 by George Halas. Their fight song calls them the “pride and joy of Illinois.” Upending all of that over a stadium dispute goes against the NFL’s typical love for its rich history and traditions. It would make their team, namely, disingenuous. Watching the Chicago Bears play in Indiana dilutes the experience. Arlington Heights is at least a suburb of Chicago. That is not a claim Hammond, Indiana, can make.

Then you have the issue of scenery. The area most expect the Bears to land were they to move is overrun with oil refineries and old manufacturing districts. It is less than idyllic. Not only would it be an eyesore, but also raise questions about air quality and other environmental factors. None of those issues surrounds Arlington Heights. While not as picturesque as the Chicago lakefront, it’s at least cleaner. They have several public parks with a much-loved downtown area. Tourists would find it much more appealing.

There is also a territorial factor in play with the Bears.

When the Giants and Jets left New York for New Jersey, they weren’t encroaching on the established territory of another team. That won’t be the case with the Bears. The Indianapolis Colts have held a firm grip on the entire state of Indiana since their arrival in 1984. The Bears’ moving to northwest Indiana would be a direct incursion on their turf and threaten to eat into their fanbase. That idea isn’t likely to sit well with the Colts’ ownership. Northwest Indiana is one of the most populous regions in the state. Handing that over to the Bears could eat into their profit margins.

All of this sounds like a headache the NFL wants to avoid. They already dealt with a nightmare when the Rams and Chargers decided to both move to Los Angeles. Neither of those teams had near the prestige that the Bears do. At least the Dallas Cowboys had the decency to stay in Texas when they moved to Fort Worth. Imagine if they’d crossed the border into southern Oklahoma. It would’ve been considered a joke. Keeping the Bears in Illinois is the best thing for everybody involved.

The fans stay happy. The McCaskeys get their new stadium and can still claim the Chicago name. No other teams will be angered. Everybody wins.

Now that the scouting combine is over, it feels like the right time for another Chicago Bears 2026 mock offseason. Information is becoming more accurate. Trade possibilities and free agent moves are coming into focus. We’re getting a better idea of where players will go in the draft. That makes it somewhat easier to determine what Bears general manager Ryan Poles and head coach Ben Johnson will do when the action starts. One thing we can say for sure is that the roster that finished last season will be considerably different by the end of spring.

Let’s take a look at how things could unfold.

The shakeup gets real in this latest Chicago Bears 2026 mock offseason

Trades:

• LB Tremaine Edmunds to the Raiders for a 4th round pick
• WR D.J. Moore and a 5th round pick to the Titans for a 3rd round pick
• QB Tyson Bagent to the Jets for a 2nd round pick
• RB D’Andre Swift to the Chiefs for a future 5th round pick

Rumors have been swirling that the Bears could get busy on the trade market, both to clear some cap space and possibly add considerable draft capital. They manage both with four significant moves. Edmunds and Moore are cap-related decisions, while Bagent is an offer they can’t refuse. The Jets have two 2nd round picks, so they can afford the calculated swing. Aaron Glenn trusts Ben Johnson’s ability to develop quarterbacks. Kansas City needs running back help, so this is an easy sell for them.

Cap space: $36 million

Cuts/Restructures:

• EDGE Montez Sweat – conversion for $10 million
• OG Joe Thuney – conversion for $8 million
• OT Kiran Amegadjie – released for $1.05 million

Cap space: $57 million

Re-signings:

• Kevin Byard – 2-year deal for $15.6 million ($3.84 million cap hit in 2026)
• C.J. Gardner-Johnson – 1-year deal for $3 million
• Braxton Jones – 1-year deal for $4.5 million
• D’Marco Jackson – 1-year deal for $1.26 million
• Dominique Robinson – 1-year deal for $1.26 million
• Jonathan Owens – 1-year deal for $1.26 million
• Daniel Hardy – 1-year deal for $1.33 million
• Durham Smythe – 1-year deal for $1.07 million
• Jordan McFadden – 1-year deal for $1.14 million
• Scott Daly – 1-year deal for $1.07 million
• Theo Benedet – 1-year deal for $1.19 million
• Case Keenum – 1-year deal for $1.26 million
• Elijah Hicks – 1-year deal for $1.07 million
• Travis Homer – 1-year deal for $1.07 million
• Jaylon Jones – 1-year deal for $1.07 million

Cap space: $46 million

Free agency:

• RB Breece Hall – 4-year deal for $42 million
• DT D.J. Reader – 1-year deal for $3.75 million
• EDGE Cameron Jordan – 1-year deal for $7 million
• CB Kaiir Elam – 1-year deal for $1.18 million

Another big move at running back isn’t what many expected in this Chicago Bears 2026 mock offseason. However, Hall is a unique specimen. He’s got size, power, and speed. His ability to produce in a rough situation with the Jets shows he can be so much more in the right situation. Playing in Johnson’s offense could be a match made in heaven. Reader and Jordan are solid veterans who can help the Bears’ pass rush and run defense. Elam is a former 1st round pick who might be the perfect reclamation project for Al Harris.

The Draft:

1st Round – Peter Woods, DT, Clemson

This draft is light on defensive tackles who are capable of becoming strong interior pass rushers. Woods is one of those few. He has good size, block-shedding power, and explosiveness in his lower body. People aren’t sure why his 2025 season was underwhelming, but it’s worth mentioning that Clemson changed their entire defensive coaching staff in his final year there. He has the full toolbox to become a dynamic interior player for Dennis Allen’s defense. All he needs is the right developmental plan.

2nd Round (via NYJ) – Anthony Hill Jr., LB, Texas

Having 17 sacks in a college career would be pretty good for a young pass rusher. Hill is an off-the-ball linebacker. Those are insane numbers, and it shows on tape. He’s highly athletic, aggressive, violent, and instinctive as a blitzer. Allen likes having inside linebackers who fit that profile. Demario Davis was a perfect example in New Orleans. Hill is that exact prototype. He’d be right at home in this system.

2nd Round – Malachi Lawrence, EDGE, UCF

I wrote recently that Allen prefers edge rushers who fall into a specific range of length and explosiveness. They must have at least a 1.65 time in the 10-yard split with arms over 33 inches. Lawrence checked both boxes at the combine. He’s a dynamic athlete for his size, getting up the field in a hurry, and already boasts a deep pass-rush arsenal. Adding some power to his frame would be the preferred next step.

Trade: 66th pick to PHI for 68th pick and 4th round pick

3rd Round (via PHI) – Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech

Teams will push Rodriguez down the board because of his average size and short arms. It’s their loss. He is a highly instinctive and athletic linebacker who doubles as an outstanding field general. He gobbles up tackles and turnovers at a shocking clip, punching far above his weight class all the time.

3rd Round – Zakee Wheatley, S, Penn State

A versatile safety with great size, natural awareness, and affinity for playing in deep coverage. He’s not afraid to drive downhill to make tackles or deliver a hit. There are certain parts of his game that need refinement, but this kid will be a solid starter in the right hands.

4th Round (via LV) – Brenen Thompson, WR, Mississippi State

There is no substitute for speed. Few love it more than Coach Johnson. He’s put a directive in to add more this offseason. What better way than adding the fastest receiver from the scouting combine? Thompson ran a 4.26, and it showed with his whopping 18.5 yards per catch this past season.

4th Round – Jude Bowry, OT, Boston College

Chicago had pretty good fortune drafting Ozzy Trapilo last year, so why not select the guy who forced him to move from left tackle to right tackle? Bowry is a big, fluid athlete with the length and mobility you seek on the left side. If he can add a better anchor and refined fundamentals, he’s a starter waiting to happen.

4th Round (via PHI) – Julian Neal, CB, Arkansas

The team has shifted to searching for taller cornerbacks since Al Harris arrived. He wants them long and athletic. Neal checks those boxes and adds speed on top. He has a good nose for the football too. When his technique is right, he blankets wide receivers.

7th Round – Lorenzo Styles Jr., S, Ohio State

There is never any arm in taking a chance on a freak athlete. Styles Jr. switched from wide receiver to safety in college, so he’s new to the position, and it shows. Has 4.27 speed, improving recognition, and special teams value.

7th Round (via CLE) – Cole Payton, QB, North Dakota State

With Bagent gone, the Bears have to think about finding help at quarterback. Payton has drawn their interest. He’s a good athlete with accuracy at all three levels. His arm strength is only average, but he shows surprising poise for only a one-year starter. He is somebody who fits what Johnson likes at that position.

When the Chicago Bears gave linebacker Tremaine Edmunds permission to seek a trade this past week, people didn’t read much into it. Due to salary-cap issues, most assumed the Bears would cut him outright. The trade thing was just to see if there was a market for the veteran linebacker. To the shock of many, it appears there is. Rumblings began earlier in the week that interest in the league was hotter than expected. Word was the Bears could get a decent return for him if things progressed quickly.

Jeremy Fowler of ESPN took things to the next level when he revealed not one but three teams with legitimate interest in Edmunds.

“One player who has strong trade value and a decent chance to be dealt is Bears linebacker Tremaine Edmunds. The Titans, Raiders and Giants are among teams interested in high-end linebackers, and they like Edmunds, who’s only 27 despite eight years in the league. He was granted permission to seek a trade earlier this week.”

Anybody who understands basic football economics will know that having three teams interested means you have the makings of a bidding war. Chicago can play them against each other, doing everything possible to drive up the price until they get the best return. What fans want to know is what they could get. This quickly went from maybe a late-round picks swap to something serious.

Tremaine Edmunds could fetch a solid pick for the Bears.

In these situations, the best thing to do is look back at recent history to find possible examples that mirror what the Bears are looking at. Plenty of linebackers have been dealt over the past couple of decades. The range of returns for them has been wide. Here are some examples of starters who were between the ages of 26 and 29 (Edmunds will be 28 in May) and what they fetched.

Given Edmunds’ productivity over the past few years and relative durability in that time, it would be fair to say he stands closer to Vilma, Collins, and Alexander in terms of quality. That means the Bears could receive up to a late 3rd or early 4th-round pick. Or something of equal value. Considering he’s in the last year of his contract, that would be a big win for the organization, giving them much-needed flexibility in an important draft.

Getting anything for Edmunds is a big win for the Bears.

Let’s not forget the team signed him as a free agent in 2023. To get three years of solid linebacker play and then flipping him elsewhere for a solid draft pick is football business at its best. Granted, part of the reason Tremaine Edmunds is being traded at all is because of cap issues. Yet that is the nature of things. Sometimes you must make difficult sacrifices. We saw that happen to Kansas City last year when they traded Joe Thuney to Chicago. The loss of Edmunds may hurt in the short term, but they should be able to navigate it.

The timing is certainly good. Draft experts believe this is one of the best linebacker classes to come out of college in the past few years. If the Bears were hoping to add a high-end talent to their roster, this is the year to do it. Don’t be surprised if they double-dip at the position. Edmunds isn’t the only one on his way out. The same is likely true for Noah Sewell as well. Don’t forget T.J. Edwards is dealing with an injury. They need bodies. Extra picks will help.

Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson may not hold the title of general manager, but many insiders have indicated he might as well. The widespread belief is that he has the final say on personnel decisions for this franchise. While general manager Ryan Poles still controls the scouting department and front office, no free-agent signing, trade, or draft pick will occur without Johnson’s approval. It also makes sense that he would set the parameters for how he wants the Bears to be constructed moving forward.

According to the latest intel gathered by Sports Mockery from the scouting combine, Johnson has installed a directive for the entire team this spring. They are to focus on one thing above all: speed.

Chicago was one of the slower teams in the NFL this past season, offensively and defensively. They ranked 23rd among teams with a combined 40-yard dash average. The Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks were 11th. The Philadelphia Eagles, who won in 2024, were 4th. Speed doesn’t equal championships by itself, but it isn’t a coincidence that winning teams are often littered with it.

Ben Johnson prioritizing speed is nothing new.

It’s been part of his track record since his time as an assistant coach with the Miami Dolphins. As tight ends coach with Miami in 2015, they signed Jordan Cameron as a free agent, noted for his 4.59 speed at 265 lbs. He shifted to wide receivers coach a year later and helped the Dolphins add Jakeem Grant (4.38). Yet it was in Detroit where that approach came fully to light. Between 2022 and 2023, as their offensive coordinator, the Lions added wide receiver Jameson Williams (4.25), running back Jahmyr Gibbs (4.36), and tight end Sam LaPorta (4.59).

Speed doesn’t win games by itself, but it does increase the margin of error for your team. One big play on offense can change the momentum of a game. Having a fast defense allows them to mitigate damage when tackles are missed or long passes are connected. Late Las Vegas Raiders owner Al Davis was easily the most obsessed person with speed, maybe in NFL history. Why? He explained.

“You can’t teach speed… everything else in the game can be taught, but speed is a gift from God.”

The Bears will have no shortage of options to choose from.

One thing about this year’s scouting combine is that it featured a healthy share of players with legitimate speed. Many of them are in positions where the Bears have needs. Edge rusher? Linebacker? Safety? All delivered impressive times. You can bet Ben Johnson also wants more juice at running back and wide receiver. No problems there, either. The only question is who among the many names might interest them the most. Here is a list of the top five runners at every position.

We already saw glimpses of this strategy last year. Colston Loveland and Luther Burden were both considered among the fastest players at their respective positions in the 2025 class. Dennis Allen openly said they (the Bears) got some speed when they drafted linebacker Ruben Hyppolite. It is a focal point that will carry over into this April’s draft. Knowing this could make it easier to pinpoint who the team selects with the 25th overall pick.

Likely Bears targets are starting to separate themselves.

At this stage, it remains uncertain who will even be on the board for the Bears when they go on the clock. The combine tends to cause a considerable shift in where players were projected to where they actually land. However, we can at least compile a list of names who:

• A. Have a reasonable chance of being available at #25
• B. Checked the speed box for their respective position

All of those players have the right mix of strong game tape and athletic testing that Johnson would be looking for. It comes down to how much positional value matters to the Bears’ head coach. He’s stated more than once that he is only interested in drafting good football players. They’ll sort out the rest later. This could mean the door is wide open to go in almost any direction. They need speed everywhere. Just pinpoint the best player who has it and take them. Don’t overthink it.