Was Crosby Almost a Bengal?

Maxx Crosby was the topic of many offseason trade talks. The biggest story being the trade, and then cancelled trade, with the Baltimore Ravens. That deal sent Crosby to Baltimore in exchange for two first round picks. Whether the Ravens actually saw something in the physical they did not like to fail him, or they got cold feet like many believe, the trade was cancelled. Crosby was back on the trade block for any team to offer up their best package in exchange for the dominant edge rusher. Were the Bengals one of those teams to make an offer? Let's talk about it. 

 There was a report from a former Bengals player that the front office was making calls on Maxx Crosby. This does need taken with a grain of salt based on who posted the initial report. Adam "Pac-man" Jones was the first, and really only, media member to claim the Bengals were in the running. It took social media by storm for the following twenty-four to forty-eight hours before it fizzled out with no big reporter taking over the story. 

Was Jones right in saying the Bengals were makings calls to Vegas in an effort to trade for Crosby? After the recent trade for Dexter Lawrence I now believe that report to be true. Historically the Bengals are never one to deal draft picks, especially not a top 10 draft pick so close to the draft. After watching the Bengals break that tendency on Saturday, it wouldn't shock me if they did make the call for Crosby. In the end either the Raiders were asking for too much, or the Bengals felt the 10th pick could be better spent else where.

Would I rather have had Crosby or Lawrence is a different question. The answer to that is, it depends. What was the price the Raiders were asking in return for Crosby after the trade fell through with Baltimore. Baltimore was planning to send not just their up coming first round pick, but the following years pick as well. After the cancellation of the trade I would assume the asking price would be a bit less. If the physical actually showed cause for concern there would be no way another team would be willing to deal their next two firsts for Maxx. That leads me to believe the ask was a first this year and another pick or two to go along with it. Maybe a second this year, a third this year and a second next year. No one truly knows. I think the ask had to include at minimum the teams first from this Thursdays draft. If Crosby was any cheaper than a first there is no reason a team would not have made the move. I would be disappointed to hear the ask went down to two seconds and the Bengals did not jump on that. Do I truly think the Raider would take two seconds after just getting two first for him, no I don't. But crazier things have happened. 

In the end the Bengals ended up sending the 10th pick to New York in exchange for possibly the best interior defensive lineman in the entire league. They then immediately negotiated and signed Lawrence to a one year extension. He is locked down in Cincy for the next three seasons getting paid an average of 23.3 million over those three years. When his contract is up in three years being able to sign a player of his caliber at that price point would be laughable. It is almost laughable now based on the fact they got him so cheap while he is still young. 

Were there going to be any of the stars of the draft available when the Bengals pick was on the clock? Tough telling, but I lean no. We will find out tomorrow night. To me there really isn't anyone you hold on to pick ten for when you know you can get Lawrence in a straight swap. I would listen to an argument for Bain or Downs. Outside of those two players there is no one worth it. Which makes the trade make that much more sense. If come Thursday when pick ten is on the clock and one of those two guys are on the board still you may kick yourself a bit, but I wouldn't. The spark that just acquiring Lawrence has already brought to the team is something no first round pick could have done. 

Now to answer the previous question on if I would have rather had Crosby or Lawrence. The answer is Lawrence. He is cheaper than Crosby would have been to trade for. His contract is cheaper that what Crosby would have wanted. And the Bengals spent a first round pick last year on an edge defender and signed another in free agency. If everyone on the D-Line plays up to their potential the Bengals could have one of the best lines in the entire NFL. Quite the contract to last season. Lawrence gives the opposing team so much to worry about in the pass game and the run game. He changes the way teams prep for the game. That is not to say Crosby does not do the same because he does. But with the Bengals being able to sign a pass rusher and interior lineman, then trade for one of the best interior players in the game, the trade for Lawrence makes more sense for the Bengals. 

Here is what many Bengal fans feared would happen on draft night, and multiple reports yesterday confirmed the rumor. The Bengals were going to reach and reach bad to draft an interior guy. The target was Peter Woods from Clemson. If you were to ask any NFL general manager would they rather have Peter Woods using the 10th pick or trade that pick Dexter Lawrence, anyone who says Woods should lose their job. As a fan it is reassuring that the front office finally realized that their draft history hasn't been great. They took a lot of heat the last two seasons. I think drafting Woods would have caused uproar the front office did not want and when you have the ability to get an established guy at the position you want to draft and he will only cost you that pick, you do it. So that's what the Bengals did. 

For the first time in a long time I think the Bengals are in a great spot on both sides of the ball heading into the draft. There are some holes here and there, but nothing glaring like the previous few years. This mentality the front office is now showing should give confidence to the players and fans that they now understand how to run a team. If you can go into the draft with the mindset you are taking the best player available (BPA) you are in a great spot as a franchise. The Bengals are at that spot in my mind. Sure they need a corner, maybe a linebacker or safety, but if someone that is projected a first round guy falls into your lap in the second round you take him. The last time they had that opportunity was in 2020 when they drafted Tee Higgins after he fell out of the first round. I am still shocked by that to this day but no complaints from me after watching him play the last six seasons. Bengals fans get to sit back and enjoy the first round of the draft without having to worry about who they might take and wonder if he will pan out in a way worthy of a top ten pick, John Ross *cough cough*. 

Let's all enjoy the draft this weekend! As always Who Dey & Go Redlegs.