Super Bowl winner calls for Bengals to aggressively pursue Maxx Crosby ‘at all costs’

Feb 17, 2026 - 18:30

Andrew Whitworth believes that the Cincinnati Bengals should aggressively pursue a trade for Maxx Crosby this offseason.

The Las Vegas Raiders superstar defensive end’s future in the Sin City is uncertain.

Maxx Crosby #98 of the Las Vegas Raiders looks on during warmups before the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on December 14, 2025 — Crosby may have already played his final down for the Raiders

This comes after the 28-year-old was shut down by the Raiders with two games remaining of the 2025 NFL regular season.

Although the team cited that this decision was made due to injury, the timing was unusual because it came just days after Crosby had spoken out about not caring whether Las Vegas wound up with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft or not.

After the season came to an end in January, the five-time Pro Bowler underwent surgery for his injury and penned an emotional statement to the fans, some of whom interpreted that it was a sign that he had made up his mind about his future.

However, if Crosby is to leave – having reportedly already given minority owner Tom Brady and the Raiders a huge ultimatum – it will have to be via trade after he put ink on paper on a huge $106.5 million extension in 2025.

Whitworth wants to see former team trade for Crosby

With practically the entire league on high alert to see if Crosby is made available for trade, former NFL tackle and Super Bowl winner Andrew Whitworth has called for the Cincinnati Bengals to go all in on bringing him to Ohio.

“Defense would be a great place to start. If I’m sitting there going ‘what do we gotta do? We can’t miss,'” Whitworth told his co-host, former NFL journeyman quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick on the latest episode of the Fitz & Whit podcast.

“This is the most critical year in this era under Joe Burrow in my opinion, of evaluation from that position in the draft and in free agency.

“How do we add the defensive weapons to take us over?

“If you think back to the beginning of this Joe Burrow run when they got him, don’t forget that they got Trey Hendrickson. That’s how they got him, in free agency.

“They brought in a couple of veteran guys who came about to this Cincinnati Bengals team and brought in a little bit of stability, a little bit of some guys that had been places and won, they were kind of pro’s pros.

Former Bengals tackle Andrew Whitworth urges Cincinnati to pull out all the stops to land Crosby via trade

Maxx Crosby lifts his arms to pump up the crowd — The Raiders signed Crosby to a three-year $106.5 million extension, but tensions between him and the organization have since grown.

“And then they matched him with all this young talent. I think they need an injection like that this off-season.

“Is it going after a guy like a Demario Davis whose available? Is it trading for Maxx Crosby and something that could really be needing picks.

“Obviously that would be a lot of capital trying to figure out how to get that worked out. But that would be the young guy, tone setter, the example for your defense every single day.

“You’ve got some d-linemen there that are young guys who you want to play better. Put one of the hardest-playing, best guys that any young d-lineman could follow in the world and Maxx Crosby around them.

“Pay him the money. Spend the draft pick, the 10th pick. Send it if you have to. Put the example in the room. … go get Maxx Crosby at all costs.”

2025 Bengals defense was a huge weak link

The Bengals are coming off a poor 6-11 campaign, which saw Burrow go down with a turf toe injury in Week 2 and miss all but 8 games of the season.

Joe Burrow throwing a football — Burrow missed most of the season

Trey Hendrickson #91 of the Cincinnati Bengals sacks Daniel Jones #8 of the New York Giants during the second half at MetLife Stadium on October 13, 2024 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images) — The Bengals could look to trade Trey Hendrickson

Cincinnati’s defense, however, was ranked 31st out of 32 teams in yards allowed per game with 380.9, with only the Washington Commanders (384.0) allowing more.

Their rush defense was by far the worst in the league, allowing 147.1 yards on the ground per contest, which saw them also concede the third-most points per contest (28.9).

Crosby, while on a Raiders team that won just three games all year, had another strong campaign, recording 10 sacks, 73 tackles, 28 tackles for loss, 20 QB hits and an interception.

They also had to contend with the loss of Trey Hendrickson, who featured just seven times in the season due to injury, and inside linebacker Logan Wilson after they traded him to the Dallas Cowboys mid-season.

Furthermore, all signs point to the Bengals trading Hendrickson this off-season.

If the Bengals were to land Crosby, or a player of that caliber, their defense under coordinator Al Golden would be exponentially improved.

It could possibly even open up Burrow’s Super Bowl window that little bit extra.

But a trade of that magnitude is easier said than done.

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