Raiders could move Maxx Crosby to build around Fernando Mendoza as Bears consider giving up offensive standout

The Las Vegas Raiders have the power to reshape the landscape of the 2026 NFL season.

They are reportedly willing to part with perennial Pro Bowl edge rusher Maxx Crosby in a blockbuster deal that would help accelerate their new era centered around projected No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza — with the Chicago Bears offering up one of their offensive focal points as key trade haul.

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The Raiders’ offseason narrative has been dominated by rebuilding chatter after a disappointing 3-14 finish in 2025.

Las Vegas holds the coveted first pick in the 2026 NFL Draft and is widely expected to use that selection on former Indiana standout Mendoza, the Heisman Trophy winner who led the Hoosiers to a perfect 16-0 season and a national title before declaring for the draft.

Yet building around a franchise quarterback , especially one as polished and cerebral as Mendoza, requires more than just arm talent.

The Raiders’ defense, anchored by Crosby, remains one of the league’s best at generating pressure, making his availability one of the most compelling trade possibilities of the offseason.

ESPN’s Bill Barnwell included Crosby in a series of potential trades that make sense for both sides, suggesting Chicago could send wideout DJ Moore and a first-round pick to Las Vegas for the star pass rusher.

According to the hypothetical framework laid out in ESPN’s offseason proposals, the Bears would receive Crosby along with a 2027 fifth-round pick in exchange for relinquishing Moore and their 2026 first-rounder.

For Chicago, the move addresses a glaring weakness: a pass rush that struggled mightily down the stretch in 2025.

Crosby, 28, sported double-digit sacks last season and has been one of the most durable pass-rush forces in football. His contract, a three-year, $106.5 million extension signed last offseason, includes minimal dead money, which theoretically makes a trade more palatable for Las Vegas.

For the Bears, surrendering DJ Moore would be a tough pill offensively, but they’d have confidence in the ascending trio of Rome Odunze, Colston Loveland and Luther Burden III to pick up the slack.

Mendoza’s projected ascent to Raider royalty plays into the calculus here. Standing 6-foot-5 with elite accuracy and leadership traits, Mendoza dominated college defenses and became the first Hoosier to win the Heisman Trophy and a national championship.

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NFL analysts see him as the clear No. 1 pick — a quarterback with pro-ready instincts and the kind of magnetic ceiling teams covet.

Las Vegas’ budding offensive core, with talents like Brock Bowers and Ashton Jeanty already in place, would offer Mendoza immediate weapons.

However, league evaluators warn that the offensive line remains a concern and could hinder Mendoza’s comfort early in his career. Still, his presence alone changes the franchise’s trajectory and makes added offensive firepower more worthwhile.

If carried out, this trade narrative represents a high-stakes gamble for both teams.

The Raiders would be betting not just on Mendoza’s potential as a franchise cornerstone, but on the value of added draft capital and an established wide receiver to support him.

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For Chicago, sacrificing offensive production to fix a key defensive deficiency is a clear signal they believe they’re on the cusp of a Super Bowl, led by Caleb Williams.

With the new league year approaching and front offices deep into evaluations, all eyes will be on Sin City and the Windy City to see if this proposed blockbuster moves from paper talk to reality.

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