At this point, we could wind up seeing a Maxx Crosby trade any moment. Of course, this fan base is hoping the Chicago Bears are on the receiving end of that deal.
But, as of very recently, there were a handful of teams in the running as a possible trade destination. The Bears, though, were all the way at the top as the most-likely to be Crosby's next team (+200 odds).
Still, the Los Angeles Rams were lurking with +700 odds. And, knowing Rams general manager Les Snead, absolutely nothing would surprise us. He's been known to let draft picks fly around a time or two.
Wednesday morning, that's exactly what he did, too. The Rams traded their first-round pick, among a couple of other selections, in exchange for Kansas City Chiefs star cornerback Trent McDuffie. This solidifies some whispers going around that the Rams wanted to add an All-Pro defensive back this offseason, and they did just that.
The Chicago Bears have one less Maxx Crosby suitor to worry about after blockbuster Trent McDuffie trade
To be specific, for those who may not have seen, the Raiders were listed as +350 favorites to have Crosby in 2026. But, also tied at +700 odds were the Rams, Philadelphia Eagles, Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills, and Dallas Cowboys.
Now, the Bears don't have to worry about the Rams being part of a possible trade.
"But wait, the Rams still own the no. 13 overall pick in this year's draft!"
That they do, but a couple of factors are also at play, starting with the fact that the no. 13 pick could very well be too rich for a Crosby trade. Now, Snead is someone who will march to the beat of his own drum. But, in all likelihood, that no. 13 pick is a bit too high to offer in a Crosby deal, considering Crosby's age approaching 30 here soon.
The Rams will also have to pay McDuffie on a new contract, likely making him the highest-paid cornerback in the league.
And speaking of players to pay, Puka Nacua will be next in line to break the bank. L.A. could be staring at a reality of having the top-paid wide receiver and cornerback on its roster.
There are other reasons why the Bears should feel confident about being up there as a favorite, too.
The Bills, while their defense could use some work, need to first figure out how they're going to give Josh Allen a number-one wide receiver. Short of signing someone like Mike Evans, who is getting older and a bit injury-prone at this stage, the Bills would likely find that receiver in the first round. So, why would they trade a first-round pick?
The Cowboys have their own cap issues to figure out, including how to pay George Pickens on a long-term deal while also paying Dak Prescott and Cee Dee Lamb on monstrous contracts. That's not even mentioning Quinnen Williams.
The Ravens are in a similar spot as the Bills, as they still don't have that alpha target for quarterback Lamar Jackson. It'd be tough to see them giving up a first-round pick in a Crosby deal.
Read more: NFL insider connects Bears to a perfect DJ Moore trade spot (and it's not Raiders)
Now, the wild card here is the Eagles. Howie Roseman is a lot like Les Snead. He's predictably unpredictable. We'll have to see if Philly finds a way to make an offer and whether that offer includes A.J. Brown.
For now, stay tuned.