The Bengals have reached new deals with WR’s Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.
For Chase, it is a 4 year/$161M deal, with $112M guaranteed. At an AAV of $40.25M, he becomes the highest paid non-QB in the NFL, shortly after Browns DE Myles Garrett had taken that spot.
Chase was originally a 1st round pick of the Bengals, taken 5th overall. As a rookie, he exploded onto the scene, serving as Joe Burrow’s top weapon from the get-go, and helping the team reach the Super Bowl. In each year that passed, his game only improved. It peaked this past season, which saw him win the receiving triple crown, leading the league in receptions, yards, and TD’s (127 receptions for 1,708 yards and 17 TD’s).
Higgins gets a 4 year/$115M deal. According to Jordan Schultz, the first two years of the deal are guaranteed. It is an AAV of $28.5M, which is a slight bump up from the franchise tag.
Originally a 2nd round pick of the Bengals in 2020, Higgins had a solid rookie season, before really coming on in 2021. Like Chase, he was a big part of the team that made it to the Super Bowl, and has developed into one of the league’s better WR’s.
The Bengals had initially used the tag on Higgins for a second straight year. But unlike last season, there was a lot more optimism that a deal would get done this time around. For the player, more security and a nice paycheck. The team, meanwhile, locks up one of their top offensive weapons. In 2024, Higgins made 73 receptions for 911 yards and 10 TD’s, despite only playing in 12 games.
Chase will be playing this season on the 5th year option, and his extension will begin next season. The new deal for Higgins kicks in this season, as it replaces the franchise tag.
It goes without saying that both deals are quite hefty. But as for the year to year cap hit, that stuff can be structured in different ways, so the AAV is not necessarily what the hit will be. It is more likely that we see a lower cap hit in the earlier years, with the later years taking on a bigger one, a blow which is supposed to be softened by a rising salary cap. But we’ll have to stay tuned to see just how they spread it all around.
It is a good day for the Cincinnati Bengals, and Joe Burrow, who now has his top two weapons locked up long term.
