The Cincinnati Bengals have formally locked of their dynamic receiving duo for the foreseeable future, securing each Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins with huge contract extensions. On Sunday, each vast receivers took to social media to substantiate the information in equivalent trend, posting a single handshake emoji on X, previously Twitter, a logo that shortly went viral amongst Bengals followers.
Higgins, who agreed to a four-year, $115 million extension, will stay in Cincinnati by means of 2028. In the meantime, Chase signed a record-breaking four-year, $161 million deal, making him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL historical past. His contract consists of $112 million assured and averages $40.25 million per yr.
After information of the extensions broke, Chase added extra response on Instagram, calling Higgins “my brotha man” and additional cementing the sturdy bond between the 2 receivers.
With Chase and Higgins each beneath contract, quarterback Joe Burrow now has his high two targets secured for years to come back. Burrow, who has been vocal about wanting the group to maintain his playmakers, expressed his assist for his or her offers earlier this offseason.
Bengals make historical past extending Tee Higgins, Ja’Marr Chase
“We’ve a number of guys like [Chase] who’ve stepped up for us and deserved to be paid,” Burrow stated in the course of the Professional Bowl Video games in January. “And need to be paid what they’re value.”
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Chase is coming off a historic 2024 season, by which he led the NFL in receptions (127), receiving yards (1,708), and touchdowns (17), turning into simply the fifth participant because the AFL-NFL merger to win the receiving triple crown. Higgins, regardless of lacking 5 video games on account of harm, nonetheless posted 73 receptions for 911 yards and a career-high 10 touchdowns.
The trail to Higgins’ extension wasn’t with out drama. The Bengals initially positioned the franchise tag on him for the second straight season, which led to commerce hypothesis and frustration from Higgins’ camp. Nonetheless, after months of negotiations, Cincinnati in the end made the long-term dedication to maintain him alongside Chase.
Higgins’ deal consists of ensures for the primary two years, securing his future in Cincinnati. Previous to the extension, he was set to play the 2025 season on the $26.16 million franchise tag, however his new contract gives long-term safety and monetary stability.
Regardless of boasting one of many NFL’s most effective offenses final season—rating eighth in factors per drive and fourth in touchdowns per move try—the Bengals missed the playoffs for the second consecutive yr. Accidents, together with Burrow’s season-ending wrist harm, derailed their postseason hopes.
Now, with their core offensive items locked in, Cincinnati is positioned to return to championship rivalry. Chase and Higgins are among the many league’s finest receiving duos, and their continued chemistry with Burrow may assist the Bengals recapture their Tremendous Bowl aspirations.
With the extensions finalized, Bengals followers can now shift their focus to the upcoming season, the place expectations can be sky-high. If Burrow stays wholesome and the offensive unit performs as much as its potential, Cincinnati might be proper again within the combine for one more deep playoff run.