The Chicago Bears had their shot at getting Las Vegas Raiders edge rusher Maxx Crosby, and it might still happen, but it'll be hard to get it done.
Chicago only has $1 million of cap room at the moment, so a trade for Crosby isn't possible, but with some small moves on the roster, the Bears might have a more team-friendly option out in free agency. Bleacher Report writer Gary Davenport shared a perfect free agent option for each NFL team, with the Bears being edge rusher Von Miller.
"The Chicago Bears were reportedly one of the teams who expressed interest in trading for Maxx Crosby after a 2025 season where the NFC North champions logged just 35 sacks as a team. However, that deal didn't come to fruition, and the Bears don't pick nearly high enough in Round 1 for this year's top pass-rush prospects to be viable targets in the draft. That leaves free agency—and with the Bears tighter against the salary cap than any team in the NFL, Chicago needs to comb through the bargain bin to add a veteran. Von Miller may no longer be the player who went to eight Pro Bowls over his first nine seasons and was named the MVP of Super Bowl 50. Miller also just celebrated his 37th birthday. But last year in Washington, Miller had nine sacks in just 420 snaps, and he is likely looking to land with a team with a legitimate shot at a long postseason run."
Bears can still get Von Miller to forget about Maxx Crosby
Miller had a solid 2025 campaign with the Commanders, recording 36 pressures, 26 tackles, 22 hurries, 15 quarterback hits, nine sacks, and six tackles for loss in 17 games. The 15-year veteran had a Pro Football Focus overall grade of 64.4, ranking 66th out of 115 edge rushers in the NFL.
The Bears would not be getting the same guy who was an eight-time Pro Bowler earlier in his career, but it would still be a great match for the team. Chicago has Montez Sweat as the top guy, and the franchise still believes in Austin Booker, but Miller gives them the different element they have been lacking there.
Plus, the contract would be a lot cheaper for Miller versus Crosby. Miller is expected to land a $5-8 million one-year contract.
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Chicago should strongly consider making the move, even if it means some Bears players have to be cut or traded to make it happen.