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The Cincinnati Bengals weren’t highly effective as it relates to applying heavy pressure on opposing quarterbacks, to put it mildly.
According to Next Gen Stats, Boye Mafe, the Bengals’ free agent addition who recently won a Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks, finished the 2025-26 season with a higher pressure rate than any other current Bengals defender with at least 150 pass rushes. Needless to say, that’s concrete evidence that Cincinnati was lackluster on the pass-rushing front last year.
Before signing Maye and other QB hunters to the fold this offseason to shore up that part of the defense, the Bengals were reportedly interested in trading for a Las Vegas Raiders star defender.
“The Bengals weren’t new to the idea of a big splash this offseason,” The Athletic’s Paul Dehner reported last Thursday.
“They were in the mix of a Maxx Crosby trade before a pivot to sign Boye Mafe, Bryan Cook, and Jonathan Allen in the first wave of free agency for a combined eight years and $126 million.”
If there’s one edge rusher who’s mastered the art of combining his powerful upper body with his polished pass-rushing technique to muck things up in the pocket, it’s Crosby. The Eastern Michigan product is coming off another high-level campaign with the Raiders, totaling 73 tackles, 10 sacks, and two forced fumbles in 15 contests (he’s only missed seven games in his career).
The former fifth-round pick was slated to join the Baltimore Ravens via a blockbuster trade until Baltimore later rescinded the deal due to health concerns. It isn’t far-fetched to suggest that the Bengals would have made the same decision, as it’s risky to take a gamble on a standout contributor whose health isn’t in an ideal place.
However, the Bengals could re-enter the picture midway through the upcoming season if they determine they won’t face any obstacles getting Crosby to pass a physical and prove he’s a safe investment.
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