Cincinnati Bengals
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The Cincinnati Bengals received good news on a potential Maxx Crosby trade
The Cincinnati Bengals have made significant efforts to improve their defense. They first began the legal tampering period of free agency bysigning Cincinnati native safety Bryan Cook to a three-year, $40.2 million contract. Then, the Bengals improved their pass rush as they signed Super Bowl champion edge defenderBoye Mafe to a $60 million contract. Most recently, the team added two-time Pro Bowl defensive lineman Jonathan Allen.
The three moves have all shown an increased emphasis the team is placing on its defense, which allowed the third-most points in the NFL last season. It was also reported that the Bengals made an effort to acquire Pro Bowl pass rusher Maxx Crosby before the Las Vegas Raiders and Baltimore Ravens agreed to a trade.
After the Ravens backed out of the deal due to a failed physical, the Raiders have publicly stated their intention to keep Crosby. Additionally, Crosby has expressed a desire to play with the Raiders once again. However, a new report has given new life to the possibility of the Bengals adding Crosby.
New Report Says Maxx Crosby Trade is Still Possible
Despite their public stance that Crosby will remain with the Raiders,ESPN’s Adam Schefter stated that the Raiders had not stopped listening to other teams regarding a potential Maxx Crosby trade. And now, during an appearance on SportsCenter,according to Bleacher Report, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler revealed that even if Crosby expressed his desire to return to the Raiders, Las Vegas could still trade him away.
Fowler said, “Everybody seems like they’re in a good spot, but since they’ve already looked at trading, they’re open to that possibility, potentially, if the right offer would come. We’re looking at timelines here; now is gonna be a little slow, but you get closer to the draft, perhaps trade offers will heat up, or even maybe closer to the season. But right now, he’s a Raider, and that’s expected for at least a little while.”
Regarding a potential fit with the Bengals,Sports Illustrated’s Zach Pressnell wrote, “Trading for Crosby is the perfect move for the Bengals.” Pressnell added, “Crosby is one of the best edge rushers in the league. He’s a game breaker who would fit perfectly as the anchor or the Bengals defensive line.”
Cincinnati Bengals Offseason
Despite the additions the Bengals made this offseason,Sports Illustrated’s James Rapien wondered if the team actually improved, as they also lost All-Pro pass rusher Trey Hendrickson.
Rapien wrote, “While Mafe is a high upside addition that should give the Bengals’ pass rush a real boost, no one is expecting him to be a better defensive end than Hendrickson was. It’s easy to forget he was on the team last season, but Hendrickson still had four sacks in seven games. That means he was on pace for 10 sacks in a 17-game season. The Bengals would love to get 10 sacks from Mafe in his first year with the team.
Essentially swapping out Ossai and Hendrickson for Mafe is a loss at defensive end. If they don’t add another piece there, then they certainly got worse in that area in free agency.”
Adding a player of Crosby’s caliber,who is expected to be fully healthy for the 2026 season, would definitely represent an improvement for Cincinnati’s defensive personnel.