The Maxx Crosby effect: How his record deal impacts Bears’ free agency and 4 EDGE rushers who might get overpaid

   

Maxx Crosby is very good at football.

Raiders make Maxx Crosby highest-paid non-QB in NFL history in record  extension | FOX Sports

Maxx Crosby is very very good at negotiating.

Last week, the All-World defensive end inked a whopping three-year, $106.5 million contract—$91.5 million of which is guaranteed—to remain a Las Vegas Raider. He’s now the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history.

And he’s earned it.

Maxx Crosby over the last 3 seasons (since 2022):

• 62 TFL (most in NFL)
• 87 QB hits (2nd in NFL)
• 34.5 sacks (7th in NFL)
• 212 QB pressures (7th in NFL)
• 60.8 snaps/game (most among DL) https://t.co/O1bcGDMlEn

— Tony Holzman-Escareno (@FrontOfficeNFL) March 5, 2025

It could be argued that the 27-year-old Crosby isn’t even the NFL’s best DE—Myles Garrett darn well better be in that conversation—which means every quality EDGE in the league will be looking to get paid, thus the Chicago Bears might have problems signing a high-end free agent pass rusher…of which there are plenty.

Here are four who will likely cash in big, and thus owe Crosby a thank-you muffin basket. (All cap hits courtesy of Over the Cap.)

Joey Bosa’s first game as a Charger (Wk 5, 2016) & his final game as a Charger (WC, Jan 2025).

9 seasons, 5 Pro Bowls, 1 DROY & 72 sacks between those two games.

One of the #Chargers greats. pic.twitter.com/0rPyo9fZL6

— Powder Blue Blood (@pwdrblueblood) March 6, 2025

Should the Bears Kick the Tires?: It’s certainly worth considering. He’s only two years older than Crosby, he had a productive 2024 (5.0 sacks, just 2.5 behind Maxx), and he was healthy-ish last season, missing just three games, as opposed to the previous two campaigns, in which he played in 14 combined contests.

Dre'Mont Jones has at least one of these highlight worthy punishing bull rushes every game where he flat out abuses blocker across from him. Cordell Volson got that treatment on Sunday as #55 makes second sack of the season. pic.twitter.com/SAUEUnJPSn

— Corbin K. Smith (@CorbinSmithNFL) October 17, 2023

Should the Bears Kick the Tires?: Nah. Jones' numbers took a nosedive between 2023 and 2024, as he posted 12 fewer solo tackles, 21 less combined tackles, and .5 fewer sacks.

He’s exactly the sort of player who, thanks to Crosby’s crazy salary, will take in more shekels than his numbers might suggest he deserves.

You might as well call me “SweatCentral” with all of the Josh Sweat highlights in the Super Bowl! 👀 #GoNoles pic.twitter.com/CvGfG6fk48

— Norvell Central (@CentralNorvell) February 10, 2025

Should the Bears Kick the Tires? Sports Illustrated's Matt Verderame and Gilberto Manzano guesstimate that Sweat’s market value clocks in around $72 million over four years, a relatively reasonable number as compared to Crosby’s, so it’s certainly worth a phone call.

F it, Chase Young highlights just because🔥 pic.twitter.com/yVLdLGgopc

— Saints_Capital (@Saints__Capital) March 19, 2024

Should the Bears Kick the Tires?: It’s impossible to predict injuries, but when a guy has missed 24 of 80 games in his career, one has to pause.

That said, Young's 2024 was his best statistical year since his award-laden 2020 rookie season, so somebody’s going to open the safe for the former number two overall pick.