Cincinnati locked up receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins for the next four years.
The Cincinnati Bengals are keeping their offensive core together.
The Bengals signed receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins to four-year extensions, as initially reported by Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz and confirmed on the team’s official website and apparently on the players’ social media pages. The Bengals had stressed repeatedly that they wanted to bring back both of their star receivers for the long term this offseason.
Higgins appeared to confirm reports on Monday, simply posting the handshake emoji on X, then reposting Schultz’s report. Chase also posted Schultz’s report to his
Instagram story. The team confirmed both signings on their
official website Tuesday.
Schultz originally reported the deals Sunday, citing Chase and Higgins themselves. Chase’s deal is for four years and $161 million with $112 million guaranteed; it makes him the highest-paid non-quarterback in the league. Higgins’s deal is for four years and $115 million with the first two years guaranteed, which makes him the highest-paid No. 2 receiver in the league. NFL Network’s
Tom Pelissero confirmed those figures, adding that the team had the deals in place last week.
Higgins was drafted out of Clemson with the 33rd overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, the same draft in which the Bengals took Burrow first overall. In his rookie year, he caught 67 passes for 908 yards and six touchdowns. He broke the 1,000-yard mark in both 2021 and 2022, but had just 656 yards in 12 games in 2023. He played 12 games again in 2024, but was more productive, with 911 yards and a career-high 10 touchdowns.
Higgins’ contract has been the subject of repeated controversy. The Bengals placed the franchise tag on Higgins in 2024, then signed him to a one-year contract. They placed the tag on him again in 2025, much to his chagrin: “
tag.,” he posted on X. Higgins reportedly
requested a trade in March 2024 after he was tagged, saying at the time that he was disappointed that he had not been in talks with the organization about a long-term extension since 2023; he later
walked back that request. He also told
TMZ in 2024 that he wanted to stay in Cincinnati.
Chase, who played with Burrow at LSU, was drafted fifth overall in the 2021 NFL Draft. He leapt out to a remarkable start as a rookie, catching 81 passes for 1,455 yards and 13 touchdowns. He has hit the 1,000-yard mark in each of his four seasons in the NFL. He won the receiving triple crown in 2024, leading the league in receptions (127), yards (1,708) and touchdowns (17).
Bengals general manager
Duke Tobin said at the NFL Combine that Chase would become the highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL. “Ja'Marr is always going to be our priority,” he said at the Combine. “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.”
Cleveland Browns defensive end
Myles Garrett threw a wrench in those plans last week, when he signed a four-year, $160 million extension with the team, months after requesting a trade. But Chase’s $40.25 million average annual value puts him just ahead of Garrett’s $40 million.
Joe Burrow said during Super Bowl week that he expected the Bengals’ front office to do what was necessary to keep all their key pieces together. ”We have me, Ja'Marr, Tee, [edge rusher] Trey [Hendrickson], Mike G, we have guys that want to play together, and so we’re going to find a way to make that work,“ he said. ”I know our organization wants to make it happen too. Guys want to get paid what they’re worth, but at the same time I know how important it is to keep great players together, and so I’m going to do what it takes.”
Tight end
Mike Gesicki took a pay cut to stay with Cincinnati, calling it the “Joe Burrow Tax” but stressing his commitment to the players in the locker room.
