The new league doesn't officially start for a few days, but that hasn't stopped news from circulating around the NFL.
The Chicago Bears and Buffalo Bills made headlines with a big-time trade, which sent wide receiver DJ Moore and a 2026 fifth-round draft pick to Buffalo in return for a 2026 second-round pick. Prior to this move, Detroit traded running back David Montgomery to the Houston Texans, and the Kansas City Chiefs sent cornerback Trent McDuffie to the Los Angeles Rams.
This is only the start of what should be an active free agency period. To help navigate the potential moves, ESPN insider Adam Schefter joined Marc Silverman and Tom Waddle on “Waddle & Silvy” on Thursday afternoon to provide his insight on the Bears’ involvement in some key players.
Adam Schefter gives update on Bears and potential Maxx Crosby trade
Waddle asked Schefter how the previous NFL trades, given the returns they netted, impact a potential deal for Raiders star pass rusher Maxx Crosby. The insider didn't believe there was much correlation, and that Crosby is “in his own category.”
Schefter also emphasized that the Raiders don't want to trade Crosby.
Silvy mentioned Crosby, Ravens center Tyler Linderbaum, and Bengals edge rusher Trey Hendrickson, and wanted to know if the Bears had connections to any of the three.
Schefter thinks the Bears have checked in on Crosby and mentioned that every team should be doing the same, but he didn't sound too convinced he would be a Chicago Bear.
“I think I'd probably be surprised if Crosby wound up in Chicago, but let's see what happens,” Schefter said.
Silvy repeated to Schefter about him being surprised, and Schefter doubled down, but also said, “I've been surprised before.”
ESPN's NFL insider said the Raiders won't move Crosby unless it's a good offer. Schefter didn't have specific answers for Linderbaum or Hendrickson, but did provide this thought on the Ravens’ center.
“I would guess the Bears are going to opt for a cheaper alternative like Tyler Biadasz (from Washington) or Lloyd Cushenberry (from Tennessee),” Schefter said. “That would be my guess on what the Bears wind up doing at center.”
As for Hendrickson, Schefter hasn't heard anything linked to him and Chicago.
For one of the most plugged-in and informed insiders in the game, this free agency period may become a wait-and-see approach. The 2026 NFL legal tampering period begins on March 9 at 12 p.m. ET to March 11 at 3:59:59 p.m. ET. After that, free agency officially begins.
Read more: Bears cannot let newly discovered problem wreck Caleb Williams's momentum
The Bears made a massive move by trading Moore, and there could be plenty more in the works in the next few days.