To the shock of some primarily based on how the franchise has operated previously, the Cincinnati Bengals stepped up with a monetary dedication to profitable. On Monday, the Bengals reportedly agreed to new offers with each Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, protecting Joe Burrow’s high targets in Cincinnati for the foreseeable future.
Chase’s contract is for 4 years and $161 million, making him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL historical past. Higgins will get $115 million over 4 years.
They’re now being paid as much as market worth for his or her manufacturing. In 2024, Chase made 127 receptions for 1,708 yards whereas scoring 17 touchdowns. To not be utterly overshadowed, Higgins caught 73 balls for 911 yards and located the tip zone 10 occasions.
This implies the Bengals, a franchise identified for penny-pinching, pulled the set off on doing precisely what the face of their franchise asked for in the beginning of the offseason.
Burrow, 28, would not need to go away Cincinnati, however he additionally needs to win above all else. He would not need to endure one other disappointing season like 2024, a yr he posted monster numbers — he threw for 4,918 yards and threw 43 touchdowns — however was pressured to look at the playoff at dwelling.
“I am assured that I believe we’re gonna have the ability to do what it takes to deliver Tee again,” Burrow said in early December when requested in regards to the Bengals having the ability to signal Higgins with Chase as the highest precedence. “I do know that I am gonna do what it takes to get him again, and so is he. We have had these talks.”
Burrow even alluded to his willingness to restructure his contract.
“We now have the cap area to get it executed,” Burrow mentioned. “I need to make it occur.”
And Cincinnati made it occur.
Clearly, dropping Higgins would’ve seemingly resulted in Chase seeing double protection each recreation. Each Chase and Higgins complement one another very nicely, with Chase being extra susceptible to huge performs down the sector and Higgins being a dependable choice to maneuver the chains.
Cincinnati protecting Burrow’s band collectively additionally provides strain on the two-time Professional Bowler. The Bengals did not miss the playoffs due to the offense. Their primary difficulty was on the defensive facet of the ball. And by spending a lot on two receivers, it brings into query how a lot is left for his or her true positions of want on protection.
Nonetheless, truthful or not, it is Burrow who will probably be judged essentially the most harshly by Cincinnati’s win-loss file.
Guiding the Bengals to the Tremendous Bowl in solely his second season was huge, and he does have accidents as excuses for missing one other postseason run so far. However statistics with out sufficient wins might make Cincinnati’s first total choose within the 2020 NFL Draft remorse petitioning so laborious for his offensive weapons when the crew nonetheless has different points.
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