Bears GM Ryan Poles on Chicago’s Maxx Crosby interest (clear, concise)

The Chicago Bears expressed interest in trading for edge rusher Maxx Crosby this offseason, but the effort appears to have stalled as Crosby stayed with the Las Vegas Raiders for 2026, according to remarks from Bears general manager Ryan Poles. Poles stated that Chicago “were involved, we checked into it, we looked to see if it made sense, had some dialogue,” offering a restrained, non-committal assessment of the process.

The Raiders’ asking price was steep, reportedly two first-round selections, a figure Ravens officials initially matched with a package including the 14th pick in 2026 and a 2027 first-rounder. Given Chicago’s draft position at 11, any potential deal would have required additional picks to bridge the gap, complicating the pursuit for Crosby if feasible at all.

For Bears fans, theMaxx Crosby saga has been a roller coaster. Crosby’s name surfaced after Chicago moved D.J. Moore to the Bills, freeing cap space, then he briefly shifted to Baltimore before a medical issue reportedly scuttled that trade. The latest development suggests Vegas remains hesitant to move him, at least in the near term, complicating Chicago’s efforts to upgrade its edge rush.

Even with Crosby off the table for now, the Raiders’ roster decisions and cap strategy could keep the door open for a future move, depending on how negotiations evolve and whether Crosby becomes available again. If he remains with Las Vegas, Chicago would likely pivot to other avenues to bolster the pass rush within the constraints of their cap and draft resources.

Looking ahead, the question remains whether Poles would pursue Crosby again if the market shifts or if other targets emerge. The Bears’ ongoing offseason work will continue to focus on shoring up the defense and stabilizing the edge rushing corps as they evaluate available options within cap space and draft considerations.