During Super Bowl week, Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase didn’t just show up for another round of media interviews-they used the spotlight to send a message. And it wasn’t subtle. The Bengals’ star receivers turned their appearance on Up & Adams into a full-on recruiting pitch for Las Vegas Raiders edge rusher Maxx Crosby, a move that lit up social media and gave Bengals fans something to dream about this offseason.
When host Kay Adams asked which Pro Bowlers they’d bring to Cincinnati if they had the chance, Chase didn’t hesitate.
“I want to go with your boy from Vegas,” Chase said. “Maxx Crosby.
I like Maxx Crosby. He’s a dawg.”
Higgins jumped right in with the follow-up: “Hey, Maxx, man. C’mon to the Bengals, man!”
It was a moment that felt more than just playful banter. This wasn’t your typical media week soundbite. This was two of the Bengals’ biggest stars openly campaigning for a player who could help fix the team’s most glaring weakness.
Let’s be clear: Maxx Crosby isn’t just another name on a wish list. He’s a five-time Pro Bowler who’s been a relentless force off the edge for the Raiders.
Even on a team that struggled mightily-Las Vegas won just three games last season-Crosby still found ways to shine. He’s the kind of player who demands double-teams, disrupts game plans, and brings a level of energy and intensity that can reshape an entire defense.
And for Cincinnati, that kind of impact is exactly what’s missing.
The Bengals finished the 2025 season at 6-11, a steep fall from their recent postseason runs. Joe Burrow’s injury was the headline, but the defense was a problem all year long.
Opponents ran wild on them, and the pass rush too often came up empty. It wasn’t just about talent-it was about tone.
The unit lacked a true enforcer up front, someone who could set the edge, collapse the pocket, and bring some attitude to a group that desperately needed it.
That’s where Crosby fits in. He’s a tone-setter.
A culture guy. A relentless motor who plays every snap like it’s his last.
And if there’s any truth to the recent report from Jay Glazer-who said that Crosby may be done in Las Vegas and that around 20 teams have already checked in on his availability-then the Bengals’ interest, even if it’s coming from the players for now, suddenly feels very real.
Higgins also floated another name before Chase brought up Crosby: Tennessee’s Jeffery Simmons.
“I don’t know if he is a free agent, but Jeffery Simmons,” Higgins said. “I like him.
He’s just a dawg up there in front, man. Just watching him over the season, he just made so many plays with run-stopping, getting sacks on the QBs and stuff like that.
I feel like we could use that.”
Simmons, like Crosby, is a disruptive force on the defensive line. He eats up blocks, dominates in the trenches, and would also bring immediate help to a Bengals front that struggled to generate consistent pressure or control the line of scrimmage.
But it was Crosby who got the real spotlight-and for good reason. His combination of production, motor, and leadership make him a dream addition for a team trying to get back to the top of the AFC. And when your star wideouts are publicly calling for help on defense, it sends a message about where the locker room sees the biggest need.
Whether the Bengals’ front office can actually make a move for Crosby remains to be seen. But the fact that Higgins and Chase are already planting the seed? That’s worth paying attention to.
Because if Cincinnati wants to return to contender status in 2026, it’s going to take more than just a healthy Joe Burrow. It’s going to take a defense that can hold its own.
And adding a dawg like Maxx Crosby? That’d be one heck of a start.