It appears the Bengals have made good on recent rumblings as Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports reports that Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins exclusively informed him that they’ve agreed to contract extensions to stick with their team.
Schultz reports that Chase will receive a four-year, $161MM extension with $112MM guaranteed, while Higgins’ deal is for 4 years and $115MM. The primary two years of Higgins’ contract — an undisclosed amount, in the meanwhile — shall be guaranteed, as well. The early predictions of the 2’s contracts combining to eclipse $70MM per yr shouldn’t be quite accurate, as they seem to mix to equal $69MM per yr.
Chase’s deal surpasses that of Browns defensive end Myles Garrett, making him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history. Higgins’ contract reportedly makes him the highest-paid WR2 in NFL history, surpassing Miami’s Jaylen Waddle. While Higgins would move up two spots from the Tenth-highest paid receiver within the league to the eighth-highest, Chase’s catapult as much as the highest of the list moves him back right down to the ninth-highest paid receiver within the NFL. Only the Dolphins (Tyreek Hill & Waddle) match them with two in the highest 10, and the Commanders (Deebo Samuel & Terry McLaurin) and the Buccaneers (Chris Godwin & Mike Evans) join with two in the highest 20.
We saw major progress as this week began with Chase and Cincinnati far apart on extension terms before producing “significant progress” two days ago. Chase had turned down a Bengals offer this yr, but after the team was unable to increase him before the 2024 season, the market shifted quite a bit. After the Raiders eclipsed Justin Jefferson‘s previous non-QB AAV mark by paying Maxx Crosby $35.5MM per yr, the Browns gave Myles Garrett a whopping $40MM each year to back off his trade request. By getting these signings of Chase and Higgins done, the Bengals avoid the value driving up much more, as T.J. Watt, Micah Parsons, and Aidan Hutchinson could all adjust that number again this offseason.
Once the precise numbers and structure come through, we should always grow to be aware of just how much the Bengals’ cap situation has improved — and it must be a big improvement. Cincinnati was sitting at just over $26MM in cap space before these two deals transpired. Higgins’ $26.2MM franchise tag cap hit should disappear, as should Chase’s $21.8MM fifth-year option cap hit; each shall be replaced with latest, much lower cap numbers that may rise within the later years of their latest contracts.
By securing Chase and Higgins for one more 4 years, Cincinnati has locked down a receiving duo that has combined for 658 catches for 9,112 yards and 74 touchdowns over the past 4 years. Through the time the 2 have played together, they’ve combined to account for 44 percent of quarterback Joe Burrow‘s completions, 56 percent of Burrow’s yardage, and 58 percent of his touchdowns. With Burrow locked in through the 2029 season, as well, the potent Bengals offense doesn’t look like going anywhere.
And Cincinnati higher hope that their prolific offense continues to provide. A giant reason why the Bengals did not make the postseason in 2024, despite Burrow leading the league in completions, passing yards, and passing touchdowns and Chase winning the receiving Triple Crown, was a defense that ranked twenty sixth is points per game and twenty fifth in yards per game.
While Chase and Higgins are celebrating their latest extensions, star pass rusher Trey Hendrickson continues to reside in limbo waiting for any developments on his extension or trade potential. Cincinnati reportedly wants not less than a first-round pick for the 30-year-old pass rusher and maybe more, though rival execs view that ask as “ridiculous.”
Hendrickson’s issues along with his contract situation date back to a trade request a yr ago, just like Higgins. Higgins made the savvy move of dropping his representation and pairing up under Chase’s agency, making it clear that a Chase deal was impossible with out a Higgins deal, as well. Hendrickson, however, seems to have been left within the cold here, because the extensions reported today will make it extremely difficult for Cincinnati to present a long-term pact to him, as well.
Regardless, Bengals fans can set free an extended sigh of relief knowing that Chase, Higgins, and Burrow shall be around to proceed putting up record offensive numbers within the years to return. Whether dedicating $124MM per yr to a few offensive players will ultimately handicap a team desperately needing to enhance on defense is to be determined. For now, though, Cincinnati can take pride in being sure it’s done what it might to make its stars comfortable.
