{"id":732097,"date":"2026-02-05T22:24:23","date_gmt":"2026-02-05T22:24:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/732097\/"},"modified":"2026-02-05T22:24:23","modified_gmt":"2026-02-05T22:24:23","slug":"bengals-wr-duo-pitches-idea-to-add-106-million-pass-rusher","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/732097\/","title":{"rendered":"Bengals’ WR Duo Pitches Idea to Add $106 Million Pass Rusher"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\"Tee\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGetty\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

The Bengals have hired Davis Koetter to be their new assistant wide receivers coach<\/p>\n

Cincinnati Bengals<\/a> Wide Receiver duo Ja\u2019Maar Chase and Tee Higgins wasted no time on answering who they would add to the Bengals roster.<\/p>\n

During an appearance on the UpAndAdamsShow, <\/a>Kay Adams asked Ja\u2019Marr Chase which Pro Bowler he would want added to Cincinnati\u2019s roster.<\/p>\n

Ja\u2019Marr Chase on what Pro Bowler he\u2019d add to the Bengals roster: <\/p>\n

\u201cI wanna go with your boy from Vegas, though. Maxx Crosby.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tee Higgins: \u201cHey Maxx, man, come on to the Bengals, man.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kay Adams: \u201cI could see him in Cincy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Higgins: \u201cI could too.\u201d<\/p>\n

(via @UpAndAdamsShow<\/a>) <\/p>\n

\u201cI wanna go with your boy from Vegas, though. Maxx Crosby,\u201d Chase said on Wednesday.\u00a0Tee Higgins chimed in with a comment of his own.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey Maxx, man, come on to the Bengals, man,\u201d Higgins added. Kay Adams agreed with both players, saying she could \u201csee him in Cincy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Evidently, Chase and Higgins can see Crosby in Cincy as well.<\/p>\n

The Cincinnati Bengals\u2019 Defensive Woes<\/p>\n

The Cincinnati Bengals defense<\/a> has nowhere to go but up after the past two seasons. The Bengals ranked 26th in passing defense in 2025.<\/p>\n

They ranked 31st in total defense in 2025 and 32nd in rushing defense which is dead last. Cincinnati allowed 380.9 yards per game and gave up 60 total touchdowns.<\/p>\n

In 2024, the Bengals ranked 25th in total defense. They ranked 21st in passing defense and 19th in rushing defense.<\/p>\n

Cincinnati allowed 25 points per game in 2024 and gave up 348 yards a game to opposing teams. It comes to no surprise that Higgins and Chase want a player such as Maxx Crosby to buffer this defensive unit.<\/p>\n

In the Bengals\u2019 mock draft roundup 2.0<\/a>, they are heavily addressing their defense in this year\u2019s draft. Names such as Caleb Downs, Rueben Bain Jr., Peter Woods, and Keldric Faulk are listed in the roundup.<\/p>\n

The majority of the names listed were defensive linemen. This signifies Cincinnati\u2019s need to focus on stopping the run while trying to get to the opposing team\u2019s quarterback.<\/p>\n

Trading for Crosby would be a great start in turn this defense around.<\/p>\n

Maxx Crosby Would Reopen Cincinnati\u2019s Super Bowl Window<\/p>\n

The Bengals have had success appearing in a Super Bowl in 2021 and an AFC Championship game appearance in 2022. Landing Crosby could possibly reopen that window.<\/p>\n

Cincinnati has the offensive side of the ball taken care of with Joe Burrow behind center. They locked up Ja\u2019Maar Chase and Tee Higgins for the foreseeable future. They also signed Tight End Tanner Hudson to a one-year contract extension through the 2026 season.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s hard to win in the NFL<\/a> when your defense is among the worst. For the Bengals, adding Crosby would be a game-changer.<\/p>\n

\"Maxx<\/p>\n

Getty<\/p>\n

The star pass rusher signed a three-year, $106.5 million contract extension in 2025. After the Las Vegas Raiders<\/a> lack of success, these trade talks are becoming more prevalent.<\/p>\n

\u201cCincinnati\u2019s offense is already loaded with playmakers, and the defense has been a problem for a few years now. It should be no surprise that Chase wants an elite pass rusher to join the team.\u201d Ben Strauss wrote in a Clutch Points article<\/a>. \u201cCincinnati finished the regular season 6-11 after Joe Burrow\u2019s turf toe injury put the team in a tough situation that they could not overcome. Now the Bengals need to figure out how to upgrade the roster to prevent it from happening again in 2026.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe real question for Cincinnati is would they be willing to pay whatever it costs to acquire Crosby?\u201d Strauss wrote<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\tDeonTay Smith<\/a> is a journalist who covers the NFL for Heavy.com with a focus on the Cincinnati Bengals, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, and the Baltimore Ravens. A graduate from Methodist University, Smith also covers local news for the Panama City News Herald and hosts his own YouTube podcast. More about DeonTay Smith<\/a>\t\t<\/p>\n

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