The Cincinnati Bengals have made it identified they’d like to maintain huge receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins collectively for the lengthy haul, giving quarterback Joe Burrow probably the greatest huge receiver duos within the league. Duke Tobin, the workforce’s director of participant personnel, emphasised that once more on Tuesday when talking to the media on the NFL Scouting Mix in Indianapolis.
Together with saying that his purpose is to re-sign Higgins to a long-term deal, he additionally stated the workforce is ready to make Chase the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL historical past together with his subsequent contract.
Chase is getting into the ultimate 12 months of his contract and can carry a $21 million salary-cap quantity in 2025. He had needed a brand new extension previous to the 2024 season however was unable to get one from the Bengals, leading to him not taking part in coaching camp.
Only for context on Tobin’s touch upon “highest paid non-quarterback,” that in all probability signifies that Chase can be one thing within the neighborhood of $40 million per season on a salary-cap quantity.
Chase is coming off a monster 2024 season that noticed him lead the NFL in receptions (127), yards (1,708) and touchdowns (17). He isn’t solely arguably the very best huge receiver in soccer, however he’s additionally nonetheless within the prime of his profession with a number of years of elite play in entrance of him.
The Higgins state of affairs is a bit more complicated.
Whereas Chase remains to be below contract for an additional 12 months, Higgins is eligible at no cost company this offseason the place he would be the high potential participant obtainable. He not solely has an opportunity to money in if he hits the open market, however he additionally has an opportunity to get one thing he would not get in Cincinnati: the chance to be a No. 1 choice in an offense.
The Bengals nonetheless have the franchise card as an choice to play, which may get messy with regards to contract negotiations.
