Las Vegas Raiders general manager John Spytek could hit the reset button with a Maxx Crosby trade. But what would that deal actually look like? One scenario that’s been discussed among fans is a move involving the Chicago Bears.
It would be kind of ironic if Crosby ended up with the Bears. In case you’ve forgotten, that is where the Raiders sent Khalil Mack a few years back. A trade that some in Raider Nation still haven’t forgiven their team for. However, when you look at how the relationship between Crosby and the Raiders is now strained, maybe now is the time to cash in while the pass rusher’s value is still high. Look, at the end of the day, the NFL is a business.
If Spytek and Co. want to reset the organization and go about a true rebuild, i.e., the Detroit Lions, they’ll need to scrap everything. As it stands, Crosby is the only player on the roster that would yield a notable draft haul. The fact is, the Raiders have never won anything with Crosby, and that’s unlikely to change anytime soon. That’s especially true if a rookie signal-caller is getting the keys next season.
So with that said, what would a trade with the Bears look like? For argument’s sake, here’s one possible outcome worth discussing.
- Raiders receive: ’26 1st round pick (29th), 2nd round pick (61st), and ’27 3rd round pick
- Bears receive: Maxx Crosby
Raiders 2-round mock draft: resetting the foundation…
Round 1: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
Fernando Mendoza looks like the kind of quarterback the Raiders can convince themselves is the answer—and that is not a knock. He’s big at 6-foot-5, 225 pounds, and he plays with a calm that shows up on film. He doesn’t panic when pressure closes in. He stands tall, takes the hit if he has to, and still delivers a catchable ball.
Most of his best work comes in the short and middle areas of the field, where he’s accurate and usually throws receivers open instead of putting them in danger. He also sees blitzes early and gets the ball out quickly, which matters in the NFL more than highlight throws do. And while he’s not a true running quarterback, he’s athletic enough to use RPO plays and pick up yards when the pocket breaks down.
The appeal is clear: he is intelligent, efficient, and designed for a structured offense. The comparisons to Jared Goff, Matt Ryan, and Kirk Cousins illustrate this point precisely. He functions as a distributor with timing rather than as a backyard creator possessing exceptional skills.
And that is the entire gamble for the Raiders, Spytek, and ownership.
If the Raiders draft Mendoza, they are not just selecting a quarterback. They are choosing an organizational identity: protection, rhythm, and decision-making over chaos. That can win—but only if the front office actually builds it. Because if Mendoza lands behind a leaky line with a playbook that asks him to be something he is not, the Cousins comparison stops being a compliment and becomes a warning label.
Round 1: Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama
Kadyn Proctor looks like the kind of pick Raiders fans love on sight—a mountain of a man who moves like he should not. He is long, powerful, and surprisingly smooth for his size, and his pass sets can look like a clinic: patient feet, quick hands, and a strong anchor. In a league that can turn a quarterback into a weekly survival story, that matters.
But the Raiders do not need another “looks the part” prospect. They need a finisher with grown-man habits.
Proctor’s tape has the same warning label that shows up on too many high-ceiling tackles: the bad reps are loud. When his leverage gets sloppy, the edge gets soft. When he dips his head and reaches, he can lose balance and fall off blocks when the picture changes. And when he plays too upright, he turns into a catcher instead of an attacker—absorbing contact instead of owning it.
That is the bet. If Las Vegas drafts Proctor, it is not just buying elite tools. At the end of the day, if Mendoza’s the pick at No. 1, you have to protect that investment. Funny enough, it will be thanks to Crosby by way of this trade that the Raiders quarterback will have his long-term tackle.
Round 2: Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina
Brandon Cisse is the kind of corner the Raiders have been chasing for years: long, fast, and comfortable living in man coverage. He can press with firm, well-timed jams, mirror releases with smooth hips, and erase space on in-breaking routes. Even when he opens early, his recovery speed shows up, and his length squeezes throwing windows at the catch point.
He also brings real special teams value—kick coverage, punt units, even field-goal block—which matters for a roster that still needs depth to play meaningful snaps.
Here is the catch: Cisse is not a finished product. His eyes can betray him, and he’ll occasionally bite on fakes, overcommit his hips, and, when threatened, too often default to grabbing. The missed tackles do not help, either.
Drafting Cisse is a bet on coaching and patience. If the Raiders want a plug-and-play savior, look elsewhere. If they want a ceiling play—and can actually develop it—Cisse fits his long-term tackle. Who Las Vegas brings in as defensive coordinator will largely depend on what they do with this selection.
Round 2: Chris Brazzell II, WR, Tennessee
Chris Brazzell II is the kind of receiver who can hijack a Raiders draft room: 6-foot-5, explosive, and somehow loose enough to bend and sink like a smaller target. He creates instant separation with subtle fakes, tracks the ball well downfield, and plays above the rim with strong hands. For a big man, he is also more dangerous after the catch than you would expect—and he competes as a run blocker.
This is not just a stat spike. Tennessee’s passing game is giving him more chances to run routes that translate to Sundays, not just college gimmicks. And after what he did against Georgia, defensive backs have had to treat him like a real problem every week. In a receiver class that gets murky after the top names, that kind of proof carries weight.
The Raiders will need to surround Mendoza with more weapons. Yes, he’ll have Brock Bowers, Michael Mayer, and Ashton Jeanty—but the wide receiver group is riddled with question marks. If you’re Spytek, keep adding to the mix until you have your adequate group.
*Top Photo: Ramble Illustration/Getty Images