The Bengals want to return to the spotlight in the American Conference of the NFL and for that, they will invest a good portion of their budget in their talented offense, where quarterback Joe Burrow and wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins stand out. Among the three, the Cincinnati team will spend an average of 125 million dollars per season.
Burrow’s renewal for $55 million per year was signed in September 2023, and this Sunday, they finally reached an agreement with Chase and Higgins.
Ja’Marr Chase, LSU player, signed a four-year, $161 million deal with $112 million guaranteed. With an annual average of $40.2 million, the WR becomes the highest-paid non-quarterback player in the NFL, slightly surpassing defensive end Myles Garrett ($40 million), who recently renewed with the Cleveland Browns.
In turn, Higgins will receive 115 million dollars over four years. The Bengals placed the franchise tag on the receiver, but were hopeful of reaching a new agreement.
Fox Sports was the first to report on the extensions.
Do the Bengals have money for the defense?
The Bengals' director of player personnel, Duke Tobin, had said at the NFL scouting combine that he wanted to make Chase one of the highest-paid players in the league.
Chase led the NFL in receptions (127), receiving yards (1,708), and receiving touchdowns (17) last season, becoming the sixth wide receiver in the Super Bowl era to achieve the triple crown of receptions.
Higgins, in turn, tied for sixth place in the league last season with 10 touchdown receptions. He also had 73 catches for 911 yards and averaged 12.5 yards per reception.
Now the Bengals also hope to secure an extension for Trey Hendrickson, who led the league with 17.5 sacks last season. Despite the defensive end being given permission to seek a trade, his desire is to stay in Cincinnati.
The question is how much money they will be able to offer him given the investment the Bengals have just made in their star receivers.