Bengals Inquired About Maxx Crosby Trade, But Backed Out

Cincinnati was a late entrant in the race to acquire the star pass rusher, who was ultimately traded to the Baltimore Ravens.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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According to a report from Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer, the Cincinnati Bengals were a 'latecomer' to the conversations around trading for star pass rusher Maxx Crosby. The Bengals were interested in Crosby as they faced the potential loss of Trey Hendrickson in free agency, but ultimately decided not to pursue the deal after over a quarter of the league had already shown interest in acquiring Crosby. Crosby was eventually traded to the Baltimore Ravens in exchange for two first-round picks.

Why it matters

The Bengals' interest in Crosby, even if they ultimately backed out, suggests the team may be more aggressive this offseason in upgrading their defense, particularly on the edge, as they look to build on their recent success and make another deep playoff run.

The details

According to the report, the Bengals inquired about a potential trade for Maxx Crosby after the team was on the verge of losing edge rusher Trey Hendrickson in free agency. However, by the time the Bengals entered the conversation, over a quarter of the league's teams had already shown interest in acquiring Crosby. The Bengals ultimately decided not to pursue the deal, and Crosby was instead traded to the Baltimore Ravens in exchange for two first-round picks.

  • The Bengals inquired about a Maxx Crosby trade after it became clear they may lose Trey Hendrickson in free agency.

The players

Maxx Crosby

An elite pass rusher in the NFL who was recently traded from the Las Vegas Raiders to the Baltimore Ravens.

Trey Hendrickson

A defensive end for the Cincinnati Bengals who was set to become a free agent.

Shemar Stewart

A first-round draft pick of the Cincinnati Bengals who plays on the defensive line.

Myles Murphy

A first-round draft pick of the Cincinnati Bengals who plays on the defensive line.

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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, Sports Illustrated Reporter (Sports Illustrated)

What’s next

The Bengals will need to address their pass rush in free agency and the draft, with the potential losses of Trey Hendrickson and Joseph Ossai.

The takeaway

The Bengals' interest in Maxx Crosby, even if they ultimately decided not to pursue a trade, suggests the team may be more aggressive this offseason in upgrading their defense as they look to build on their recent success.