Could Maxx Crosby Head To NFC North? Chicago Bears And Detroit Lions Named In Trade Prediction

Maxx Crosby has not been traded, but the conversation around him will not stop. The Las Vegas Raiders edge rusher is under contract through 2029 on a three-year, $106.5 million extension with $91.5 million guaranteed, carries a $35.8 million cap hit this season, and has reportedly generated trade interest from multiple teams despite both sides publicly saying they prefer to stay together. With the NFL trade deadline getting closer, two NFC North teams have entered the speculation: the Chicago Bears and the Detroit Lions.

The Bears have the more documented history with Crosby. General manager Ryan Poles confirmed earlier in 2026 that the team checked into a potential trade but moved in a different direction. ESPN's Bill Barnwell later proposed a deal that would send Crosby to Chicago in exchange for wide receiver DJ Moore, a first-round pick, and a late-round pick swap. The premise was that Moore is expendable with Rome Odunze, Luther Burden III, and Colston Loveland already in place, and that a dominant edge rusher would push the Bears into NFC Super Bowl contention. Chicago's pass rush group, currently led by Dayo Odeyingbo, Austin Booker, and Montez Sweat alongside Shemar Turner, has drawn scrutiny as the roster's most significant question mark.

What Fell Apart Earlier This Year

Las Vegas came close to dealing Crosby to Baltimore before the season. The Ravens agreed to a package worth two first-round picks, according to reporting from Jonathan Jones of The Athletic, but backed out after Crosby's imaging exam raised medical concerns about his knee. That failure reset the market. With Baltimore out, the Raiders' leverage dropped and the number of teams willing to pay top-end draft capital thinned out.

ESPN's Adam Schefter said the most likely outcome was Crosby staying in Las Vegas for the 2026 season. Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reported that a trade remained possible if the right offer came in. Crosby ranked fifth among edge rushers by Pro Football Network's EDGEi metric in 2025, finishing with 10 sacks and 20 quarterback hits.

Where the Lions Fit

The Lions have been mentioned with less urgency. Pro Football Network named Detroit among five teams that could pursue Crosby if he surfaces on the market again, alongside the Chiefs, Eagles, 49ers, and Patriots. Detroit already signed DJ Wonnum to a one-year deal worth up to $6 million to line up opposite Aidan Hutchinson, which likely reduces their need. GM Brad Holmes has also been reluctant to trade high picks, with his highest reported trade being a third-rounder. For the Bears' rivals, having Crosby line up in the NFC North twice a year would be its own problem, which is part of why the Detroit Sports Nation piece framing this as a Lions concern rather than a Lions opportunity landed the way it did.

The trade deadline falls later in October. Neither the Bears nor the Raiders have confirmed any ongoing talks.