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The Maxx Crosby trade didn’t go down for the Chicago Bears, but they may be grateful about that after a new report.
Ben Johnson and the Chicago Bears were in the running to snag Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby and bring him to town, but that didn’t happen, and instead, Crosby is staying a Raider for the 2026-27 season, at least for now. But, on Monday, March 16, a doctor’s report surfaced that may make the Bears glad the deal didn’t work out.
Crosby is an elite defensive end, and according to NFL research, during the 2025-26 NFL regular season, he recorded 73 total tackles, 10 sacks, 28 tackles for loss and one interception. But, is he still worth two first-round picks? That’s the question.
Crosby, of course, was traded to the Baltimore Ravens during the offseason, but following his physical, they canceled his deal and signed free agent Trey Hendrickson instead. After that went down, Crosby took to socials to announce that he’s playing with the Raiders for the 2026-27 season.
Medical Expert Weighs In on Maxx Crosby Health Situation
Following the drama, a doctor is reporting on Crosby’s health and interpreting the player’s private doctor’s findings. In a Monday, March 16 feature for USA Today’s Lions Wire, Jimmy Liao, MD, discusses Crosby’s “surgeon leak” and why the player may have more injuries than expected, at least according to his analysis.
In the piece, he pulls a quote from Crosby’s doctor’s report that states “…a significant meniscus tear and the related stress injury to the bone and cartilage in his knee.”
“These words suggest that Crosby does not just have meniscus damage, but also bone and articular cartilage damage,” Dr. Liao states. He continues, “If the articular cartilage damage was newly discovered (or revealed) at the physical, this could absolutely explain why the Ravens felt the need to reconsider the trade and eventually cancel it.”
Dr. Liao also says that articular cartilage damage “creates much more concern” for the player both in the short and long-term. He goes on to say that because of this new finding, it “will become much more difficult for the Raiders to find a trade partner willing to part with premium draft picks and pay a high salary.”
Baltimore Ravens May Still Be Open to a Trade
So, if Crosby is traded again, Dr. Liao thinks the Raiders will have to give in and not get everything they wanted from their Ravens trade. That may also explain why the Raiders don’t appear to be trading him at this time, because they can’t get what they wanted for him.
While Crosby says he’s staying with the Raiders, it could go either way. On Sunday, March 15, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN went on SportsCenter and, according to Bleacher Report, said the Raiders could still trade him.
“Everybody seems like they’re in a good spot, but since they’ve already looked at trading, they’re open to that possibility, potentially, if the right offer would come,” Fowler said on the show. He added, “We’re looking at timelines here; now is gonna be a little slow, but you get closer to the draft, perhaps trade offers will heat up, or even maybe closer to the season.”
If the Chicago Bears make another play for Crosby, the good news is that the shouldn’t have to give up two first-round picks for the athlete.
Anne Erickson is an award-winning reporter for Heavy Sports covering the NFL, NBA and college football. Anne Erickson has years of experience covering the NFL and additional sports, and her work has been published via ESPN, Fox Sports and more. She has interviewed some of the biggest names in sports, including Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff. Erickson also hosts several podcasts and is a Detroit-based radio host. More about Anne Erickson
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