Bears urged to trade for Giants' 23.5 sack edge rusher instead of Maxx Crosby

Entering the 2026 NFL offseason, the Chicago Bears had a few areas of the roster that needed to be addressed. So far, they've added Devin Bush to fill their linebacker hole and Coby Bryant to resolve one safety spot.

While Ryan Poles could decide to add more help for Caleb Williams on offense or pursue more defensive back help, there's a far bigger need for an edge rusher. With such a need, there's one player that makes a ton of sense to trade for, and it's not Maxx Crosby.

Sports Illustrated's Mike Kadlick is urging the Bears to trade for a New York Giants edge rusher in Kayvon Thibodeaux instead of trying for Crosby. The 25-year-old pass rusher with 23.5 career sacks in four years would be a great trade pickup for Chicago.

Bears urged to trade for Kayon Thibodeaux from Giants

"The Bears were in on Maxx Crosby before his situation ultimately ended with him returning to the Raiders, and they've yet to truly address the edge rusher position this offseason," Kadlick writes. "Trading for Thibodeaux, who's still on his rookie contract, would be yet another victory for Ryan Poles and Co. in Chicago."

The Giants trading Thibodeaux away this offseason is a very real possibility. They drafted Abdul Carter last year, and with Brian Burns in one of the starting spots, Thibodeaux becomes expendable.

Thibodeaux, the 2022 NFL Draft's fifth overall pick, has had a strong career with the Giants through the last four years. But this past season was his worst as his role diminished significantly with the addition of Carter to the defense.

He had 2.5 sacks, 25 total tackles, five tackles for loss, and nine quarterback hits, all of which were career lows for Thibodeaux. He only played in 10 games, but at the end of the day, he wasn't needed as much as he was in years past.

More: Bears can trade for Maxx Crosby after Ravens back out of Raiders deal

Across the last four years, Thibodeaux has played in 53 games, recording 13 passes defended, six forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, one fumble returned for a touchdown, 23.5 sacks, 152 tackles, 31 tackles for loss, and 55 QB hits.

He might not be cheap, potentially in the third-round price range, but compared to Crosby, who initially went for two first-rounders from the Baltimore Ravens, a late-third round pick for Thibodeaux wouldn't be a bad deal.

Chicago needs edge rusher help, and Kadlick is urging the Bears and Giants to swing this mutually beneficial trade this offseason. Chicago gets their pass rusher, and the Giants get draft capital by trading a depth edge defender.

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