The money is apparently flowing in Cincinnati. Bengals wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins reportedly signed lucrative new contracts on Sunday.
Per Fox Sports insider Jordan Schultz, Chase signed a four-year, $161M deal with $112M fully guaranteed and Higgins signed a four-year $115M deal with the first two years guaranteed.
Chase’s new contract makes him the highest-paid non-QB in NFL history. Higgins will be the highest-paid WR2 ever, per Schultz.
Reports emerged during the NFL Scouting Combine in February that Cincinnati was planning on acquiescing to Chase’s desire to become the most expensive skill position player in the league.
“Ja’Marr’s always going to be our priority,” Bengals general manager Duke Tobin told reporters Feb. 25 (h/t ESPN). “He’s going to end up being the No. 1 paid non-quarterback in the league. We’re there. Let’s get it done.”
Now that promise has become a reality.
Chase, named a first-team All-Pro wideout in 2024, led the league in receptions (127), receiving yards (1,708), touchdowns (17) and yards-per-game (100.5) last season.
Higgins on the other hand, hasn’t played more than 12 games over the past two years. He combined for 1,567 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns in that span.
The 26-year-old suffered a quad strain in Week 8, missing three games, after having already missed Weeks 1 and 2 with a hamstring pull.
Tobin must have confidence in Higgins’ ability to stay healthy and produce at a higher clip than he has in tandem with Chase to guarantee his first two years on the new deal.
But having 2024 league MVP finalist Joe Burrow at quarterback must help ease any concerns.
With both Chase and Higgins locked up long-term, Cincinnati will likely emerge as a playoff favorite if not a serious Super Bowl contender in 2025-26.
