Bengals Players Want Team to Trade for Top Defensive Talents

Tee Higgins and Ja'Marr Chase name Titans' Jeffery Simmons and Raiders' Maxx Crosby as players they'd like to see in Cincinnati

Feb. 5, 2026 at 8:39pm

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In a recent interview, Cincinnati Bengals stars Tee Higgins and Ja'Marr Chase expressed their desire for the team to trade for top defensive players Jeffery Simmons of the Tennessee Titans and Maxx Crosby of the Las Vegas Raiders. Higgins highlighted Simmons' elite pass rushing ability, while Chase advocated for adding Crosby, who has voiced his desire to leave the Raiders.

Why it matters

The Bengals have a talented offense led by Higgins and Chase, but their defense could use an infusion of top-tier talent to help the team take the next step. Acquiring players like Simmons or Crosby would significantly bolster Cincinnati's pass rush and overall defensive capabilities.

The details

Simmons, a defensive tackle for the Titans, was the league's top-graded pass rusher at his position in 2025 with a 90.9 rating. He recorded 9 sacks and had a 19.3% pass rush win rate. Crosby, a 28-year-old defensive end, has 69.5 career sacks, including 10 in 2025. He has expressed a desire to leave the Raiders, making him a more realistic trade target for the Bengals.

  • Tee Higgins and Ja'Marr Chase made their comments on the Up and Adams show recently.

The players

Tee Higgins

A wide receiver for the Cincinnati Bengals.

Ja'Marr Chase

A wide receiver for the Cincinnati Bengals.

Jeffery Simmons

A defensive tackle for the Tennessee Titans who was the league's top-graded pass rusher at his position in 2025.

Maxx Crosby

A 28-year-old defensive end for the Las Vegas Raiders who has expressed a desire to leave the team and has 69.5 career sacks.

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What they’re saying

“I would love to see Jeffery Simmons on the Bengals.”

— Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver

“I would love to add Maxx Crosby to the team.”

— Ja'Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver

What’s next

The Bengals will need to evaluate the feasibility and cost of trading for either Simmons or Crosby, as both would likely require significant draft capital to acquire.

The takeaway

The Bengals' talented offensive duo of Higgins and Chase are eager to see the team bolster its defense with elite talent like Simmons or Crosby, which could help the team take the next step and compete for a championship.