Bengals Called Raiders About Maxx Crosby Trade Before Ravens Got Him

Cincinnati explored acquiring the star pass rusher before he was traded to Baltimore.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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The Cincinnati Bengals were interested in trading for Las Vegas Raiders star pass rusher Maxx Crosby before he was ultimately dealt to the Baltimore Ravens for two first-round picks. While the Bengals were not willing to give up multiple first-rounders like the Ravens did, they did reach out to the Raiders about a potential deal as they looked to replace the departing Trey Hendrickson.

Why it matters

The Bengals have struggled on defense in recent years, and adding a dominant pass rusher like Crosby could have been a game-changer. While they ultimately weren't able to pull off the trade, the fact that they explored it shows their commitment to improving their roster and competing in the AFC.

The details

According to reports, over a quarter of the NFL's teams showed interest in trading for Crosby, with the Ravens, Cowboys, Bills, and Bears being the most aggressive suitors. The Bengals were a late entrant to the sweepstakes, but they did reach out to the Raiders about a potential deal. Realistically, the Bengals were unlikely to match the Ravens' offer of two first-round picks, as that would have been out of character for their typical approach to roster-building.

  • On March 9, 2026, the Bengals called the Raiders about a potential Maxx Crosby trade.

The players

Maxx Crosby

A star pass rusher for the Las Vegas Raiders who was traded to the Baltimore Ravens.

Trey Hendrickson

A defensive end for the Cincinnati Bengals who was set to leave the team in free agency.

Ja'Marr Chase

A wide receiver for the Cincinnati Bengals who publicly stated his desire for the team to acquire Maxx Crosby.

John Spytek

The general manager of the Las Vegas Raiders who was able to raise the price for Maxx Crosby due to the high level of interest from multiple teams.

Albert Breer

A reporter for Sports Illustrated who reported on the Bengals' interest in trading for Maxx Crosby.

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What they’re saying

“The Bengals, on the verge of losing Trey Hendrickson in free agency, were another latecomer to the party. By then, over a quarter of the league's 32 teams had shown some level of interest in Crosby, with a few others that he had less interest in going to throwing their hats in the ring as well.”

— Albert Breer, Reporter (Sports Illustrated)

What’s next

The Bengals are expected to be active in free agency as they look to improve their defense, with the legal tampering period beginning on Monday at 4 PM ET.

The takeaway

While the Bengals were unable to land Maxx Crosby, their pursuit of the star pass rusher demonstrates their commitment to upgrading their defense and competing at the highest level in the AFC. The team's willingness to explore a blockbuster trade shows they are not afraid to be aggressive in their roster-building efforts.