Bears face lingering questions after Maxx Crobsy interest

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Maybe Maxx Crosby wasn't the answer to the Chicago Bears' defensive issues that caught up with them last season. Or, maybe he was. We really won't know at this point, because Crosby is back with his home team and the Bears are forging ahead without him.

It's not even clear just how interested in Crosby Ben Johnson and the Bears were, but we know there was at least some contact and interest. But, it didn't happen, at least not yet.

One thing that is certain is that the Bears' defense is oh-so important to the team going into 2026. This team needs a stronger defense, and the changes they made during the offseason really don't seem to address that concern as much as one might think. Of course, Johnson is an offensive-minded coach, but he also knows the importance of having reliable players on both sides.

Chicago Bears' defense in question in a post-Maxx Crosby world​

In a feature for ESPN out on Thursday, the outlet looks at each team going into training camp. For the Bears, the question is about defense.

"Will Chicago's decisions on defense pay off? Sure, Caleb Williams will have to adjust to playing with a new center and WR1, but the biggest question for the Bears entering training camp is whether they've done enough to improve on defense," Courtney Cronin of ESPN states.

She adds that "the team decided against getting in on the Maxx Crosby sweepstakes or spending big elsewhere to upgrade the pass rush, and it believes another year in Dennis Allen's scheme for players such as Austin Booker, Dayo Odeyingbo and Gervon Dexter Sr. will yield better results from a unit that ranked 31st in pass rush win rate (29%) and 29th in pressure percentage (28%)."

The Bears also snagged linebacker Devin Bush and changed their secondary, adding Coby Bryant and Dillon Thieneman. That's a lot of new pieces. And that's a lot for the defense to get comfortable with before September.

More NFL news:​

• Shedeur Sanders of the Brown gets warning about his music career
• Jets and Darren Mougey could make a surprise trade during training camp
• Bears just landed a recognition that Ben Johnson should love

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