Chase, Higgins sign extensions with Bengals, Chase sets NFL record

Photo : AP

The Cincinnati Bengals have given new four-year contracts to wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. This means quarterback Joe Burrow will continue to play with his two best teammates for many more years.

A person who knows about the deal told The Associated Press that Chase’s new contract makes him the highest-paid player in the NFL who is not a quarterback. He will earn $161 million, and $112 million of that is guaranteed. This is more than what Cleveland Browns' Myles Garrett earns per season.

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Higgins also got a big deal worth $115 million. The Bengals had put a special tag on him, but they wanted to give him a long-term contract, and now they have done that.

The team has not yet officially announced the news, so the person who shared this information did not want to be named. Fox Sports was the first to report about the contracts.

Ja’Marr Chase had an amazing season last year. He caught the most passes (127), had the most receiving yards (1,708), and scored the most touchdowns (17) among all wide receivers. Only five other players in NFL history have achieved this rare record.

Since he was picked by the Bengals in 2021, Chase has scored 46 touchdowns, which is more than any other player. He is also ranked third in receiving yards (5,425) and sixth in total catches (395). Because of his great performance, he was selected as an All-Pro player for the first time in 2024.

One of his best games last season was against Baltimore, where he caught 11 passes for 264 yards and scored three touchdowns.

Bengals’ director of player personnel, Duke Tobin, made it clear that keeping Chase on the team was their biggest goal.

“Ja’Marr is always our top priority,” Tobin said. “He is a great football player. He will be the highest-paid non-quarterback in the league. We have reached that point, now let’s finish the deal.”

Tee Higgins has also been a very important player for the Bengals. He was picked in 2020, the same year Joe Burrow joined the team. Higgins has gained at least 900 yards in four of his five seasons. In 2021 and 2022, he had more than 1,000 yards in both years.

Last season, Higgins ranked sixth in the NFL with 10 touchdowns. He finished the season with 73 catches for 911 yards, averaging 12.5 yards per catch.

His best game came on December 28 against Denver. He caught 11 passes for 131 yards and three touchdowns. His final touchdown, a 3-yard catch in overtime, helped the Bengals stay in the playoff race.

The Bengals ended the season with a 9-8 record after winning their last five games, but they still missed the playoffs for the second year in a row.

Tobin made it clear that the team has always wanted to keep Higgins.

“For three years, we have talked about giving Tee a long-term deal, and today we are still talking about it,” Tobin said. “As long as I am in charge, I want Tee Higgins on this team, and I will do everything I can to keep him.”

With Chase and Higgins staying, the Bengals now want to extend the contract of defensive star Trey Hendrickson. He has permission to look for another team, but the Bengals want to keep him. Hendrickson is entering the last year of his contract after leading the NFL with 17.5 sacks last season.

“We have many great players, and we are lucky to be in a position where we can afford to keep them all,” Tobin said. “We have managed our money well.”

Tobin also said that the Bengals want to reward their best players while keeping the team strong.

“We want a high salary cap but low dead money, so the players who are in Cincinnati get the most money,” he explained. “We want to re-sign these players, pay them for their talent, and keep adding strong players to the team. It’s a big job, but we believe we can do it.”

By giving these big contracts, the Bengals are showing they are serious about winning. They are making sure Joe Burrow has his best teammates with him as they continue to fight for a championship.

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