Bears’ Maxx Crosby dream is revived (but trade offer could be more affordable)

The Bat Signal is out for Ryan Poles.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby | Eric Hartline-Imagn Images

The Chicago Bears might still be able to trade for Maxx Crosby, after all.

In a stunning and unprecedented development, the Las Vegas Raiders announced that the Baltimore Ravens had backed out of a blockbuster deal that sent two first-round picks to the Raiders in exchange for the star pass rusher.

The deal is off. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the reason the Ravens backed out of the deal is due to Crosby's knee surgery earlier this year. They apparently didn't feel comfortable with Crosby's knee eventually being fine after getting a closer look.

Bears could possibly get Maxx Crosby at a discount after shocking trade development

The Chicago Bears, and any other team that was previously interested in a Maxx Crosby deal before the Ravens finally gave the Raiders an offer they couldn't refuse, could theoretically jump right back into that mix.

The news about Crosby's medical situation is certainly concerning, but that could force this to go in one of a couple of directions. Either the Raiders could stick with Crosby until he's medically cleared (and maybe even keep him), or they could lower the price tag and trade him elsewhere.

And if the price tag is lower, it becomes an even more enticing risk for Chicago. Two first-round picks are a significant price to pay for any player, but you're not going to pay that price for a player who can't pass a physical. There will be a projection involved one way or another, but each team will have a medical staff that views the injury and recovery process differently.

The Bears have already made some substantial moves this offseason, adding former first-round pick Devin Bush to the linebacker position after his bounce-back with the Browns, as well as bringing in safety Coby Bryant from the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks.

The pass rush undoubtedly is a concern area and needs to be addressed.

What's really fascinating is seeing how quickly the Raiders try to get Crosby onto another team. They have brought in an unbelievable haul of players in NFL Free Agency, and Crosby reverting back to their roster means they have a $30 million cap hit to deal with.

Read more: Bears continue to bulk up defensive line with new addition Kentavius Street

It's unprecedented for a deal of this magnitude to be called off. The idea of the Raiders keeping Crosby after he spent multiple days getting acclimated to Baltimore feels far-fetched. If the Bears can get him at a discount, it might be a risk worth taking for Ryan Poles.

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