Chase, Higgins reach extensions
with Bengals. AP source says Chase will be NFL's highest-paid non-QB
[March 17, 2025]
By JOE REEDY
The Cincinnati Bengals have agreed to four-year extensions with
receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, assuring that Joe Burrow
will have his top two targets with him for some time.
A person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press
that Chase will become the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL
history, earning $161 million, including $112 million guaranteed.
That surpasses the $40 million per year average by Cleveland pass
rusher Myles Garrett.
Higgins will get $115 million. The Bengals placed the franchise tag
on Higgins, but were hopeful of getting a new deal done.
The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the
team has not announced the move.
Fox Sports was the first to report on the extensions.
Chase led the league in receptions (127), yards receiving (1,708)
and touchdown catches (17) this past season, becoming just the sixth
wide receiver in the Super Bowl era to achieve the receiving triple
crown.
Bengals director of player personnel Duke Tobin reiterated recently
at the NFL scouting combine that he wanted to make Chase one of the
highest-paid players in the league.
“Ja’Marr is always going to be our priority,” Tobin said. “He’s a
fantastic football player. He’s going to end up being the No. 1 paid
non-quarterback in the league. We’re there. Let’s get it done.”
Chase leads the league in receiving touchdowns (46), third in
receiving yards (5,425) and sixth in receptions (395) since being
the fifth overall pick and AP Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2021.
He was an All-Pro selection for the first time in 2024 after having
three games with at least 10 catches and 177 yards. That included 11
catches for 264 yards and three touchdowns in a 35-34 loss at
Baltimore in a Thursday night game.
Higgins was tied for sixth in the league this past season with 10
touchdown catches. He also had 73 receptions for 911 yards and
averaged 12.5 yards per catch.
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Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins lines up against the
Dallas Cowboys during an NFL football game in Arlington, Texas, Dec.
9, 2024. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez, File)
His best game last season was on Dec. 28 against
Denver, when he had 11 receptions for 131 yards and three
touchdowns, including a 3-yard score in overtime that kept the
Bengals alive for another week in the postseason chase. Cincinnati
won its final five games to finish 9-8, but missed the playoffs for
the second straight year.
“You can pull up three years ago, talking about doing a long-term
deal with Tee and here we are today, still talking about doing a
long-term deal,” Tobin said. ”Whenever I’m in charge of a football
team, I want Tee Higgins and so I’m going to do what I can to get
Tee Higgins.”
Higgins was a second-round pick by the Bengals in 2020, the same
season Burrow was the top overall pick. Higgins has at least 900
receiving yards in four of his five seasons, and had more than 1,000
yards in 2021 and ’22.
The Bengals are also hoping to reach an extension with Trey
Hendrickson despite the All-Pro edge rusher receiving permission to
seek a trade. Hendrickson is also going into the final year of his
contract after leading the league with 17 1/2 sacks last season.
“We have a lot of really good football players, fantastic football
players. And we’re fortunate to be in a position where we can fit
them all in. We’ve managed our cap well,” Tobin said. “We want a
high payroll and low dead money, so the people that are in
Cincinnati playing for us can get all the money.
“We want to re-sign these guys, reward them for their ability level
and add to the football team. It’s a tall task, but we think we’re
up to it.”
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