Bengals initially tried trading 10th pick for Maxx Crosby before Dexter Lawrence deal

Bengals initially tried trading 10th pick for Maxx Crosby before Dexter Lawrence deal originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Cincinnati Bengals initially owned the 10th overall selection in the 2026 NFL Draft, but they no longer own that pick after the blockbuster trade with the New York Giants for defensive tackle Dexter Lawrnece.

It was a shocking trade, as the Bengals typically don't trade their first-round picks as they did in the Lawrence deal. But, they made a big move, and it wasn't the first time they were looking to move on from the 10th pick.

According to Essentially Sports' Tony Pauline, the Bengals reportedly initially tried trading the 10th pick to the Las Vegas Raiders for Maxx Crosby.

Bengals tried trading 10th pick for Maxx Crosby

"Sources tell me that long before the Cincinnati Bengals surrendered the 10th pick of the draft to the New York Giants for Dexter Lawrence," Pauline writes, "the team discussed trading that selection to the Las Vegas Raiders for Maxx Crosby."

The Bengals trading the 10th pick was a major surprise, and yet, they had been eyeing a different trade involving the 10th pick for much of the offseason.

But the Bengals, like most teams, didn't want to spend two first-rounders on Crosby. The did end up making the trade, though it fell through after a failed physical from Crosby.