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Cincinnati Bengals star receiver Ja’Marr Chase wasn’t happy at all to hear news of the Las Vegas Raiders trading five-time Pro Bowl edge rusher Maxx Crosby to their rival Baltimore Ravens.
Chase was on a live stream playing video games when he said he got a text from his quarterback, Joe Burrow, about the Ravens’ selection of Crosby. He let out an exclamation as he read the text.
“Joe just texted me. Ravens traded for Maxx Crosby,” Chase was heard saying over the live stream. “No f—ing s—. No f—ing s—, bro.
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Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase after the game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High on Sept. 29, 2025. (Ron Chenoy/Imagn Images)
“I’m f—ing very p—ed right now. Oh my God.”
As he processed the information, Chase couldn’t believe that Crosby is another high-end pass rusher to be added to an already stacked AFC North that features Cleveland Browns’ Myles Garrett, who rewrote the single-season sack record in 2025, and Pittsburgh Steelers All-Pro TJ Watt, among others.
“How do we let this n—- go to f—ing division bro?” Chase asked. “… Oh my god.”
The Raiders received two first-round picks from the Ravens, including their No. 14 overall pick in next month’s NFL Draft, to land the 28-year-old Crosby. Baltimore, with new defensive-minded head coach Jesse Minter, isn’t playing around to shore up the defense, and they finally got the Eastern Michigan product out of Las Vegas after seven seasons.
But Chase knows Crosby can affect his workload twice a year since the Bengals haven’t had the most offensive lines in recent seasons.
Since entering the NFL in 2020 as the first overall pick, Burrow has been sacked 213 times, the fourth-most among active quarterbacks in that time frame. Justin Herbert, Russell Wilson and Baker Mayfield have been fired more.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby advances from the sideline during the Chicago Bears game at Allegiant Stadium on Sept. 28, 2025. (Kiyoshi Mio/Imagn Images)
The Bengals certainly need to continue to address their O-line heading into 2026, and they have about $47 million to work with currently in the legal cap space, which begins Monday. Maybe they’ll look to shore up that spot, or look in the NFL Draft to make sure Burrow is covered on all ends.
Meanwhile, the Bengals are likely moving on from their top pass rusher since they didn’t use the franchise tag on Trey Hendrickson, who is expected to get a big deal in free agency — one he hoped the Bengals would give him last offseason. Instead, he played on a one-year deal and is an unrestricted free agent this time around.
Since losing in the 2022 AFC Championship Game, which came a season after falling to the Los Angeles Rams in the Super Bowl, the Bengals haven’t had the success they were used to. That has to do in part with serious injuries to Burrow in 2023 and this past season, when the team finished 6-11 when the signal-caller played just eight games.
The Bengals still have the offensive firepower to go with Burrow and Chase as fellow receiver Tee Higgins re-signed to an extension last offseason, and running back Chase Brown has been quite the addition since being drafted in the fifth round in 2023. He rushed for 1,019 yards and caught 69 for 205 yards.
Cincinnati Bengals star Ja’Marr Chase had a big reaction to Maxx Crosby being traded to the Baltimore Ravens — his AFC North rival. (Getty Images)
But it’s always tough to face the AFC North’s defenses six times a year, and the Ravens will be more formidable with Crosby on their side.
Chase obviously knows that.
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