NFL trade deadline: Maxx Crosby would make Bears defense even more lethal

The Chicago Bears have a 4-3 record following eight weeks of up-and-down football (and a bye week). The NFL trade deadline is one week away and that could be a time when teams send a message about their intentions.

Last season, the Bears were buyers at the deadline landing defensive end Montez Sweat from the Washington Commanders, and now he's one of their best defensive players. Their pass rush gained an impact player who can help them on every down he plays.

No matter what happens in Chicago's game against the Arizona Cardinals this Sunday, it should not impact their philosophy on the trade deadline. They are too premature for buying rentals but they should not avoid making trades for players that will be there in the long term like Sweat.

The Bears had to get a deal done with Sweat, but they knew they would be able to before they made the trade with the Commanders. They should consider doing the same thing with Las Vegas Raiders pass rusher Maxx Crosby.

Crosby is one of the top defensive players in the NFL right now. Honestly, he may even be a tick better than Sweat. The truth of the matter is that he would form a dynamic duo on the pass rush with Sweat if the Bears made that type of move. It is entirely possible that a trade like this would cost Chicago one of its second-round picks and possibly their first. They would also have to pay Crosby handsomely, but he is worth the money.

So far this season, Crosby has 6.5 sacks in seven games played with 16 tackles. The three-time Pro Bowler is likely going to make it four straight years by the time this campaign is over. Adding a guy like that would do wonders for the Bears, who already have an elite defense. With the linebackers and secondary already in place, Crosby could make this the defense the best in the league.

The Bears desperately need offensive linemen. That is the only need that should be higher on the list than another pass rusher. The problem is that they are not trading for an impact offensive lineman this year. That needs to come through the draft or free agency. That ship has sailed for 2024, as it's hard to believe teams would look to trade good offensive linemen at this time.

A good pass rusher on the other hand can be traded at any time. The Bears have traded for good ones a lot over the years. Crosby could be the next in a long list of them, that is assuming he'd be on the trade block.

Another pro to making a deal like this is the fact that the Bears would be keeping him from the Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, or Minnesota Vikings. Beating the division rivals is going to be hard enough as it is and it could be the difference in making the playoffs or not.

This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Trade deadline: Maxx Crosby would make Bears defense even more lethal