CINCINNATI — Two of the Bengals’ greatest stars might be touchdown new offers quickly.
The crew’s entrance workplace is actively working to get broad receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins signed to contract extensions as shortly as doable, sources advised ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Friday afternoon. Progress on the offers for Chase, who’s coming into the ultimate season of his rookie contract, and Higgins, who obtained the franchise tag for the second straight yr, has been made in latest days on long-term extensions.
When these lastly hit the books, they may find yourself being huge. The expectation across the NFL is that Chase’s contract will common between $40.1 million to $41 million, sources advised Schefter, which might make him the highest-paid non-quarterback in league historical past. That mark is at present held by Cleveland Browns defensive finish Myles Garrett, who signed his four-year extension price $40 million per season Friday.
The expectation amongst league executives reached by ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler is that Higgins will earn near $30 million per yr on a brand new deal, which might put his wage among the many high six to seven wideouts within the NFL.
The event comes following a gradual week for Cincinnati firstly of free company. The most important offers had been re-signing defensive deal with BJ Hill to a three-year contract that averages $11 million per season and tight finish Mike Gesicki to a three-year contract averaging $8.5 million yearly. The Bengals signed former Inexperienced Bay Packers defensive deal with T.J. Slaton (two years) and re-signed defensive finish Joseph Ossai (one yr) to contracts that common $7 million yearly.
Ossai, a third-round decide in 2021, famous that the conversations about Higgins, Chase and defensive finish Trey Hendrickson, who can also be in search of a hefty extension, had been understood all through negotiations. The Bengals are permitting Hendrickson to hunt a commerce.
Requested concerning the potential of retaining all three gamers for 2025, Ossai raised his eyebrows and smiled concerning the lofty risk.
“Folks would like to have them again,” Ossai stated Friday. “The arrogance they carry to the crew, you are going on the market and you’ve got, you understand, Ja’Marr and Tee as a tandem. You’ll be able to win any recreation.”
All through the offseason, the Bengals have strongly been in favor of bringing Higgins and Chase again regardless of the worth tags.
On the NFL scouting mix in February, de facto normal supervisor Duke Tobin repeatedly acknowledged the crew’s want to provide Chase a record-breaking extension after his historic 2024 season that noticed him win the receiving triple crown. Quarterback Joe Burrow has additionally been vocal about ensuring the crew finds a option to retain its finest gamers.
