After a dramatic overnight swing in Vegas odds, the Chicago Bears have emerged as the clear frontrunner to land Raiders star Maxx Crosby — signaling that trade buzz around the Pro Bowler may be more than just speculation.
There has been buzz surrounding edge rusher Maxx Crosby being traded to the Chicago Bears for months now.
The writing has been on the wall between Crosby and the Las Vegas Raiders — a team clearly entering a rebuild and not an ideal on-paper fit for a 28-year-old pass rusher in the prime of his career who wants to win.
Chicago has a clear need to bolster its defensive line. It was the team’s biggest weakness in 2025 and remains the most obvious area for the Bears to upgrade this offseason. Crosby’s strong relationship with Bears quarterback Caleb Williams, along with the way he has spoken fondly of the organization, has only fanned the flames.
A Maxx Crosby trade to Chicago always made sense. Now, there’s some movement in Vegas to back it up — and yes, I’m referring to the betting odds. Though, given how quickly those odds have shifted over the last 24 hours, it’s fair to wonder whether there’s also movement happening inside the Raiders’ front office.
Yesterday, DraftKings Sportsbook listed the Bears at +600 to land Crosby. By this morning, Chicago had moved to +200 and become the favorite. The latest update has the Bears at -135 — the clear frontrunner among potential suitors.
DraftKings still lists Crosby staying in Las Vegas for the 2026 season at +165, with the Dallas Cowboys next at +1200. That frames the situation rather clearly: either Crosby stays put, or he’s headed to Chicago. Based on chatter circulating around the league this week, a trade could materialize soon — possibly within the next 24 hours.
Crosby recorded 10 sacks in 15 games for the Raiders in 2025 before being shut down for the season. That organizational decision appeared to be a tipping point in the growing tension between the two sides.
What it would take to finalize a deal is anyone’s guess. It’s possible wide receiver DJ Moore could be involved as the Bears attempt to navigate Crosby’s $30 million base salary within their current cap structure. At a minimum, Chicago would likely part with the 25th overall pick and additional future draft capital. Still, Crosby is a proven All-Pro-caliber edge rusher — a far more certain commodity than whoever might be available at No. 25.
For a team with legitimate Super Bowl aspirations next season, fielding the strongest possible roster has to be the priority.
Odds don’t swing this dramatically without reason. Whether a deal ultimately gets done remains to be seen, but something is happening behind the scenes — and right now, the Bears are the clear favorite to land one of the NFL’s premier defensive playmakers.
The sites encourage responsible gambling and provide resources for help. A common message is: "If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER". The National Council on Problem Gambling help-line is also often cited at 1-800-522-4700.