Ben BabyMar 16, 2025, 11:15 PM ET
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- Ben Child covers the Cincinnati Bengals for ESPN. He joined the corporate in July 2019. Previous to ESPN, he labored for quite a lot of newspapers in Texas, maximum not too long ago at The Dallas Morning Information the place he coated faculty sports activities. He supplies day by day protection of the Bengals for ESPN.com, whilst making appearances on SportsCenter, ESPN’s NFL displays and ESPN Radio techniques. A local of Grapevine, Texas, he graduated from the College of North Texas with a bachelor’s stage in journalism. He’s an accessory journalism professor at Southern Methodist College and a member of the Asian American Reporters Affiliation (AAJA).
CINCINNATI — Two of the NFL’s maximum distinguished vast receivers will likely be with the Cincinnati Bengals for the foreseeable long run.
Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins instructed Fox Sports activities on Sunday that they’ve agreed to contract extensions. Chase agreed to a four-year, $161 million deal that comes with $112 million assured, whilst Higgins agreed to a four-year, $115 million deal this is assured for the primary two years, they instructed Fox Sports activities.
Chase’s deal has an annual moderate of $40.25 million, environment an NFL document for the absolute best moderate annual wage for a non-quarterback.
The agreements conclude years of negotiations for every participant. And quarterback Joe Burrow, who has been vocal in advocating for Chase and Higgins to get new contracts, now has his best goals secured.
| Participant | APY |
|---|---|
| WR Ja’Marr Chase | $40.3M |
| DE Myles Garrett | $40M |
| DE Maxx Crosby | $35.5M |
| WR Justin Jefferson | $35M |
| DE Nick Bosa | $34.2M |
| WR CeeDee Lamb | $34M |
| — ESPN Analysis |
“Now we have a number of guys like [Chase] who’ve stepped up for us and deserved to be paid,” Burrow instructed ESPN on the Professional Bowl Video games in January. “And should be paid what they are price.”
Chase, who grew to become 25 on March 1, is coming off probably the most very best seasons through a receiver in NFL historical past. He was the 5th participant because the AFL-NFL merger in 1970 to win the receiving triple crown, main all gamers in receptions (127), receiving yards (1,708) and receiving touchdowns (17).
Higgins, 26, used to be hampered through accidents remaining season however used to be nonetheless productive when at the box. He used to be tenth in receiving yards consistent with sport (75.9), consistent with ESPN Analysis. He additionally stuck 10 touchdowns in 12 appearances.
Each and every participant used to be below workforce regulate for the impending season. Chase used to be at the ultimate 12 months of his rookie deal. The Bengals positioned the franchise tag on Higgins for the second one immediately 12 months.
Then again, the strategies utilized by the workforce to regulate the salaries for each gamers led to a lot of consternation.
Forward of the 2024 loose company length, Higgins asked a business after he used to be franchise-tagged for the primary time. The second one-round select within the 2020 draft in the long run made up our minds to play remaining season at the tag.
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A couple of months later, Chase performed a “hold-in” right through coaching camp during which he didn’t take part in any workforce actions. He ended his stalemate with the membership forward of the primary sport of the season.
Each gamers had been in the long run rewarded for no longer best their earlier efforts however for what they create to the workforce one day.
“We are paying guys for what they’ll give us,” Bengals director of participant staff Duke Tobin stated on the league’s scouting mix in February. “We aren’t simply paying guys for what they have already carried out.”
Tobin, the workforce’s de facto common supervisor, additionally made it transparent the Bengals sought after to present Chase a historical contract. Chase’s document for non-quarterbacks breaks the mark in short held through Cleveland Browns defensive finish Myles Garrett, who not too long ago signed a four-year deal price $40 million yearly.
And any lingering problems from the tough first negotiation between the Bengals and Chase — during which, resources instructed ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Chase felt misled — have been smoothed over through this offseason.
On the scouting mix, Bengals trainer Zac Taylor stated he and Chase have a “nice courting” that comes with the power for the megastar receiver to offer comments to the workforce’s offensive playcaller.
| Staff | WR Duo | APY |
|---|---|---|
| Bengals | Ja’Marr Chase & Tee Higgins | $69M |
| Dolphins | Tyreek Hill & Jaylen Waddle | $58.3M |
| Eagles | A.J. Brown & DeVonta Smith | $57M |
| *present NFL contracts | ||
| — ESPN Analysis |
“Ja’Marr does a super task of no longer simply spewing solutions that he does not suppose via as a result of he needs the ball,” Taylor stated. “There is been occasions he stated, ‘Hello, guy, the entirety else we are doing is operating, and I am simply going to stay doing my factor over right here, although I have never gotten a large number of touches.’ However it is our task to place him able to get touches early in each unmarried sport.”
Closing season, the Bengals boasted probably the most league’s best offenses. Cincinnati ranked 8th in issues consistent with pressure, 6th in touchdowns consistent with pressure and fourth in touchdowns consistent with cross try.
That wasn’t sufficient to stay the Bengals from lacking the playoffs for the second one immediately season. The repeat playoff absences took place after back-to-back journeys to the AFC Championship Recreation, together with a victory and Tremendous Bowl look in Chase’s rookie season in 2021.
With Chase and Higgins now below new multiyear offers, Cincinnati has the playmakers to rebuild its standing as a name contender.
