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Max Crosby who? The Chicago Bears may permanently move on from the Maxx Crosby trade dreams with this player.

The Chicago Bears are still looking for their long-term edge solution, and it doesn’t involve Las Vegas Raiders pass rusher Maxx Crosby, at least not for now. But, the Bears may forget their Crosby woes if they draft this budding edge in the 2026 NFL draft.

The draft is set for Thursday, April 23, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and runs through Saturday, April 25. The Chicago Bears have just seven selections in the draft, but knowing Ben Johnson, they’ll use them wisely.

The team is largely expected to draft an edge early in the draft, because it’s a position where they still need help. Lucky for them, the 2026 draft class is rich with solid pass rushers, so no matter where they select an edge in the process, it should be an accomplished one.

Chicago Bears May Not Think About Maxx Crosby Anymore If They Select This Edge in the 2026 NFL Draft

In a feature out on Monday, April 20, Jordan Reid of ESPN gives his seven-round mock with all 32 teams’ picks, including the Chicago Bears, in the 2026 NFL draft. For the Bears, he has them using their first pick, No. 25, to get edge T.J. Parker out of Clemson.

“After an underwhelming season with five sacks (three coming in the regular-season finale), Parker was able to revive his draft stock with a strong pre-draft process,” he states in the piece. “His game centers around pure strength, as Parker is a power rusher who can overwhelm blockers at the point of attack.”

He adds that the team needs pass-rush assistance, and Parker could quickly be a complementary No. 2 rusher opposite Montez Sweat.

Parker’s official NFL draft profile states that is “hand work is above average” and the player “strikes early to set very firm edges, then sheds quickly to finish tackles.” Also, his “average short-area burst limits his ability to pursue the run in space and threaten tackles in a race to the top of the rush.”

Elsewhere in Reid’s mock, he has the Bears selecting safety Treydan Stukes out of Arizona with their No. 57 pick.

“Both of the Bears’ starting safeties from last season are gone, so Stukes could make an immediate impact,” Reid says. “He has a knack for finding the ball (seven interceptions in two seasons) and can transition to free safety after playing primarily nickel in college.”

What Makes This Clemson Standout a Good Fit for the Chicago Bears?

I don’t always agree with the mock drafts out there, especially in the heat of the draft, but I do agree with Reid on the Bears drafting Parker. It’s a risk, because he didn’t have the best final season with Clemson, but as Reid noted, he had a strong pre-draft showing and really proved that he’s ready to step into a starting role in the NFL.

Johnson is all about development, and with Parker, he lands a player that’s ready to be developed by Chicago’s staff. He’s no Crosby out the gate, but he could certainly become a Crosby-type player with the right training.