The Chicago Bears are certainly open for business this offseason. Not only are they shopping some of their own players, but they are also on the hunt for some significant additions.
More particularly, the Bears are looking to add an edge rusher, which is why they have been repeatedly linked to trades for both Maxx Crosby and Kayvon Thibodeaux. Considering Chicago totaled just 35 sacks in 2025, it makes complete sense.
However, the Bears have now received some really tough news on the trade market.
The New York Jets just traded edge rusher Jermaine Johnson to the Tennessee Titans in exchange for defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat, setting the tone for the edge rusher market heading onto March. The Titans paid a hefty price for Johnson, surrendering one of the NFL’s best nose tackles.
That means Chicago will have to pay up if it wants to acquire a star pass rusher of its own.
Will the Chicago Bears still try to trade for an edge rusher?
Johnson is not an elite defender by any stretch. He’s a good player for sure, but he isn’t Crosby. He’s probably more similar to Thibodeaux. But now, Tennessee just established a pretty significant price for other edges by landing him.
Are the Bears willing to pay a significant cost to acquire a pass rusher via trade? Or will they just fall back on the NFL Draft?
The good news is that this year’s draft class is loaded with talent at the edge rusher position, so Chicago can just select one of the many talented players on the board this April. That probably is the most likely route at this point.
Neither the Las Vegas Raiders nor the New York Giants are going to just give Crosby or Thibodeaux — respectively — away. Especially not after seeing what the Jets just secured for Johnson.
The Bears won the NFC North and captured a playoff victory this past season. They aren’t far away from contending for a Super Bowl, and finding another player who can get to the quarterback alongside of Montez Sweat is one of the final pieces they need.
But Chicago may not want to go for broke in a trade.
Chicago Bears may need to pay huge price for Las Vegas Raiders’ Maxx Crosby, NFL Exec says
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