Mar 17, 2025, 12:06 PM ET
CINCINNATI — Cincinnati Bengals vast receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins have agreed to phrases at the long-term extensions they have got sought after for years.
Chase agreed to a four-year, $161 million deal that comes with $112 million assured. The once a year moderate of $40.25 million units an NFL report for the easiest moderate annual wage for a non-quarterback, surpassing the former $40 million mark set through the Cleveland Browns’ Myles Garrett. Higgins, who had already been given the franchise tag, landed a four-year, $115 million deal this is assured for the primary two years.
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The Bengals now steer clear of possible contract disputes from hampering the remainder of the workforce’s offseason plans, one thing which happened closing season with every receiver. Higgins asked a business closing yr ahead of deciding to play underneath the tag, and Chase carried out a “hold-in” throughout coaching camp through which he didn’t take part in any workforce actions. He ended his stalemate with the membership forward of the primary recreation of the season.
Cincinnati’s entrance place of job headed off such problems this yr and made certain quarterback Joe Burrow has his peak playmakers underneath contract for the following couple of years.
On the NFL mix in February, Cincinnati director of participant group of workers Duke Tobin said the workforce’s want to meet Chase’s need to make him the richest participant who does not throw the ball for a dwelling. Higgins additionally effectively landed his deal after two up to now failed negotiations.
After all, this ties some huge cash up into the workforce’s passing assault. The wage cap hits will escalate in years yet to come, a monetary burden that can be eased so long as the cap continues to move up. However the offers make something very transparent: Regardless of the Bengals are going to perform in years yet to come will revolve round one of the crucial league’s perfect trios — Burrow, Chase and Higgins.
Taking a more in-depth glance, Bengals reporter Ben Child solutions 4 large questions concerning the offers whilst nationwide reporter Jeremy Fowler weighs in with the thrill across the league and NFL draft analyst Jordan Reid breaks down what the strikes may just imply for the Bengals’ draft.
Ja’Marr Chase (1) is now the highest-paid non-QB in NFL historical past whilst Tee Higgins additionally landed an enormous extension. Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire
What does this imply for Burrow?
As with the whole lot surrounding the franchise, how issues pertain to Burrow is the principle query. With Cincinnati getting offers executed for his peak two receivers, it way the Bengals will fit their $275 million funding of their celebrity quarterback through additionally conserving his peak vast receivers.
It additionally alerts the franchise ended up giving him what he sought after. Since closing December, Burrow has been very vocal about ensuring Cincinnati helps to keep Chase and Higgins, amongst different key gamers. He went so far as pronouncing it might were a “sadness” if Higgins wasn’t introduced again, and someday, Cincinnati has to prevent nice gamers from leaving the development.
That has been a big sticking level when monitoring the workforce’s screw ups the previous two seasons. The lack to stay protection Jessie Bates III, who’s now a Professional Bowler with the Atlanta Falcons, brought on the downfall of the protection. Then in 2024, defensive take on DJ Reader signed with the Detroit Lions. And closing yr, Cincinnati straight away lamented the downfall of its dashing protection and cited that as a reason why the unit struggled.
“We had some defensive take on issues that saved us from being sufficient of a run-stopping workforce,” Tobin stated. “We play in a department that we were given to prevent the run.”
Burrow’s visual public issues were alleviated. Which places him in place to construct on an MVP-caliber season. –– Child
Trey Hendrickson had a league-leading 17.5 sacks closing season, and whilst he were given the golf green mild to hunt trades, the Bengals’ asking worth is top. AP Photograph/Jeff Dean
Can the Bengals come up with the money for to carry again Hendrickson?
It might be arduous to have the opportunity to stay Hendrickson, who joined Chase to transform the workforce’s first All-Professional picks since 2015. Hendrickson, a four-time Professional Bowler and the NFL’s sack chief in 2024 with 17.5, is looking for a long-term deal.
For the second one directly yr, Hendrickson asked a business after it become transparent the Bengals were not all in favour of giving him a long-term contract. This yr, the request to hunt a business used to be granted forward of unfastened company.
Then again, Hendrickson remained with the Bengals after the primary large wave of transactions in mid-March. Groups cited a top asking worth for Hendrickson, who may just fetch a first-round select. Then again, it isn’t not unusual for defensive gamers to be swapped in trade for a top-32 select. The closing time that came about used to be Nov. 1, 2022, when the Broncos traded Bradley Chubb and a 2025 fifth-round select to the Dolphins for Chase Edmonds, a 2023 first-round select (No. 29, Bryan Bresee) and a 2024 fourth-round select.
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Hendrickson has a manufacturing profile that some distance exceeds his rank of tenth in annual moderate wage amongst edge rushers, in step with OverTheCap.com. However will a workforce be prepared not to handiest section tactics with a top rate select but in addition pay him the wage that places him within the peak tier of edge rushers, with Garrett lately surroundings the marketplace at $40 million in step with yr?
Cincinnati can to find tactics to decrease wage cap hits to make it reasonably priced to stay Hendrickson, however it might put a good squeeze on the remainder of the roster.
However teammate Joseph Ossai stated holding Hendrickson can be price it.
“If we will be able to stay a distinct man,” Ossai stated in March, regarding Hendrickson, “we now have the similar items. The sky is the prohibit, I feel …. selfishly, I am praying we stay that particular man.” — Child
What are you listening to across the league at the strikes?
Other people across the league had expressed wonder that the Bengals had been even going to check out to pay two receivers round $70 million a yr. No longer that it could not be executed, however with Burrow already a number of the highest-paid gamers, Cincinnati can be allocating smartly over $100 million in money in step with yr to 3 gamers who cannot lend a hand a woefully underresourced protection.
The present theme in league circles is that the Bengals will have stored themselves a minimum of $20 million or so had they prolonged Chase ahead of his triple-crown season of 2024 — he led the league in receptions (127), receiving yards (1,708) and receiving touchdowns (17). However as one AFC govt identified, the Bengals have a excellent factor happening offense and confirmed they’re dedicated to profitable extra so than they have got prior to now. The issue now’s that they might be very low on money as they try to prolong Hendrickson. In the event that they transfer him, it places numerous force at the entrance place of job to beef up the protection throughout the draft. — Fowler
What does a go back on funding appear to be?
There is not any query that the Bengals must box a championship-caliber passing assault given the present funding at the roster.
Cincinnati now has the highest-paid quarterback and highest-paid receiver in league historical past. Higgins may be incomes a wage upper than many different peak wideouts on different groups, which displays his worth had he hit unfastened company.
One may just argue it is arduous to invite the Bengals to exceed their 2024 output. Burrow led the NFL in passing yards (4,918) and passing touchdowns (43) and Chase gained the receiving triple crown. Then again, there’s nonetheless room to develop.
Cincinnati used to be 8th in issues in step with force closing season and 6th in touchdowns in step with force. Whilst cast numbers, a workforce with Cincinnati’s stage of funding will want to make stronger on the ones marks.
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That is very true within the fourth quarter. Final season, Cincinnati had a minus-28 level differential and used to be fifteenth in issues in step with force throughout the overall quarter-hour.
It puts a vital quantity of force on no longer handiest Burrow and the receivers but in addition trainer Zac Taylor, who’s getting into his 7th season. Taylor, the workforce’s offensive playcaller, can be tasked with maximizing the elite skill at his disposal and main the Bengals again into Tremendous Bowl rivalry.
And that’s felt during all the group.
“I have not been part of an offseason that isn’t pressing,” Tobin stated in February. “We are looking to maximize our guys. In case you have Joe Burrow, you might be looking to have compatibility it round him and provides him the most productive probability to have a Corridor of Status profession. He is no doubt in a position to that.” — Child
Does this make the Bengals a greater workforce?
That is probably the most sobering query that cuts throughout the euphoria of bringing again Chase and Higgins.
There is no ensure this if truth be told makes Cincinnati higher. Chase used to be arguably the most productive receiver within the league closing season. Burrow used to be an MVP finalist however used to be the one top-5 vote-getter whose workforce did not make the playoffs. Higgins is the person who can lift his ceiling probably the most given the soft-tissue accidents that compelled him to leave out 5 video games closing season.
The offers may just ensure that the Bengals will maintain what they have got already executed. For the report, that type does raise a blueprint for good fortune.
Final season, when Cincinnati had serviceable defensive mess around their celebrity offensive trio, the Bengals had been unbeatable. Cincinnati closed the season with 5 directly wins and miraculously flirted with a playoff berth in spite of having a 4-8 report at one level.
Burrow believes there may be any other stage he can hit. Chase and Higgins are nonetheless ascending gamers who proceed making improvements to every yr. However for the Bengals to in reality recuperate, everybody round them should take your next step — from the entrance place of job to the training body of workers to the 53rd participant at the roster.
And imagine it or no longer, paying Chase and Higgins if truth be told improves the protection. Ossai defined how when he signed his one-year extension closing Friday.
“It lets in us to play unfastened and simply have that mindset — all we need to do is get the ball again to the offense,” Ossai stated. “If you realize that and 75% of the time the offense has the ball and they are going to force there and rating it, you’ll do no matter you need as a protection.
“You’ll be able to name the sport extra freely because the defensive coordinator. You’ll be able to cross available in the market and play with out concern of constructing errors.” — Child
What may this imply for the Bengals’ draft plans?
One of the best ways to lend a hand Burrow subsequent month is to toughen the offensive line. The Bengals are in dire want of lend a hand at guard, because of this Tyler Booker (Alabama) might be an possibility with the seventeenth select of the primary around.
Buying and selling again is also a direction Cincinnati explores, obtaining extra alternatives and looking to get into the 20-25 vary. Two names to observe: Gray Zabel (North Dakota State) and Donovan Jackson (Ohio State). Each supply positional and scheme versatility as they’d be fast starters for the Bengals.
Zabel has checked each and every vital field throughout the predraft procedure, as scouts had been paying shut consideration to his transition towards larger pageant. He silenced the ones questions with a standout efficiency on the Senior Bowl and had a noteworthy exercise on the mix. Jackson, who transitioned to left take on following a midseason harm to Josh Simmons, pieced in combination a productive school profession at guard and take on. A couple of scouts I talked to imagine he can play take on however extra assume he is perfect suited as a guard on the subsequent stage. — Reid
