Bengals Considered Blockbuster Trade for Maxx Crosby Before Ravens Landed Him

Cincinnati was one of many teams interested in the star pass rusher before he was traded to Baltimore.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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According to a report, the Cincinnati Bengals were among the teams that showed interest in trading for Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby before he was ultimately dealt to the Baltimore Ravens. The Bengals were reportedly on the verge of losing their own star pass rusher, Trey Hendrickson, in free agency and viewed Crosby as a potential replacement. However, the Bengals ultimately balked at the Raiders' high asking price of the 10th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft and their 2027 first-round selection.

Why it matters

The Bengals have long been admirers of Crosby's game, with head coach Zac Taylor and quarterback Joe Burrow both praising the defensive end's disruptive abilities. Acquiring Crosby could have provided a major boost to Cincinnati's defense, but the steep price tag proved to be too much for the team to stomach.

The details

According to the report, the Bills, Bears, Cowboys and Ravens were the most aggressive teams in pursuing a trade for Crosby early on, which helped the Raiders drive up their asking price. The Bengals, who were on the verge of losing Trey Hendrickson in free agency, showed interest in Crosby as a potential replacement, but ultimately decided against meeting the Raiders' high demands of the 10th overall pick in 2026 and their 2027 first-round selection.

  • On March 7, 2026, the Bengals were reported to have shown interest in trading for Maxx Crosby before he was ultimately dealt to the Ravens.

The players

Maxx Crosby

A star defensive end for the Las Vegas Raiders who was traded to the Baltimore Ravens in March 2026.

Trey Hendrickson

A pass rusher for the Cincinnati Bengals who was set to become a free agent in 2026.

Joe Burrow

The quarterback for the Cincinnati Bengals who has praised Crosby's abilities in the past.

Zac Taylor

The head coach of the Cincinnati Bengals who has also spoken highly of Crosby's play.

Albert Breer

The Sports Illustrated reporter who broke the news of the Bengals' interest in trading for Crosby.

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What they’re saying

“He's one of the best players in the NFL. He can disrupt an entire game, and I've made this statement to others around here, outside the players in our locker room, he's one of my favorite players in this league. How he goes about every single snap – run game, pass game. Leadership he's showing on that team. He put them in position to be in the playoffs where they're at right now. There's a lot of players around this league you respect, he's certainly top-notch.”

— Zac Taylor, Head Coach, Cincinnati Bengals

What’s next

The Bengals will need to address their pass rush in the upcoming offseason, either through free agency or the 2026 NFL Draft, after failing to land Maxx Crosby in a trade.

The takeaway

The Bengals' interest in Maxx Crosby highlights the team's desire to bolster their defense, particularly their pass rush, but the steep price tag proved to be too much for Cincinnati to stomach. This episode underscores the challenges teams face in acquiring top-tier talent via trade in the NFL.