The Cincinnati Bengals have solidified their offensive core by securing two of the NFL’s top wide receivers, Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, on long-term contracts. The star duo confirmed to Fox Sports on Sunday that they had agreed to contract extensions, concluding prolonged negotiations and ensuring their future with the franchise.
Chase, 25, signed a record-breaking four-year, $161 million deal, which includes $112 million in guaranteed money. His contract averages $40.25 million per year, setting an NFL record for the highest annual salary for a non-quarterback. Higgins, 26, agreed to a four-year, $115 million contract with the first two years fully guaranteed.
The extensions provide a significant boost for Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, who had previously voiced his strong support for securing both receivers.
“We have several guys like [Chase] who have stepped up for us and deserved to be paid,” Burrow told ESPN at the Pro Bowl Games in January. “And deserve to be paid what they’re worth.”
The agreements come after months of negotiations, during which both players faced uncertainty regarding their futures in Cincinnati. Chase was in the final year of his rookie contract, while Higgins played under the franchise tag last season after initially requesting a trade.
Chase also held out of team activities during training camp last year in a “hold-in” protest over contract concerns. However, both players ultimately decided to play through the season, a move that has now been rewarded with lucrative contracts.
The Bengals’ director of player personnel, Duke Tobin, emphasized the team’s commitment to investing in talent for future success.
“We’re paying guys for what they’re going to give us,” Tobin said at the league’s scouting combine in February. “We’re not just paying guys for what they’ve already done.”
Chase is coming off one of the best seasons by a wide receiver in NFL history. He became just the fifth player since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970 to win the receiving triple crown, leading the league with 127 receptions, 1,708 receiving yards, and 17 touchdowns.
Higgins, despite battling injuries last season, remained productive. He ranked 10th in receiving yards per game (75.9) and caught 10 touchdowns in just 12 appearances.
Cincinnati, despite boasting one of the league’s most efficient offenses last season—ranking eighth in points per drive, sixth in touchdowns per drive, and fourth in touchdowns per pass attempt—missed the playoffs for the second consecutive year. This followed back-to-back AFC Championship appearances in the previous seasons, including a Super Bowl trip in Chase’s rookie year.
With both Chase and Higgins locked in for the foreseeable future, the Bengals are now positioned to reclaim their status as serious contenders in the AFC. The team hopes that continuity and stability within its offensive unit will help propel it back into the playoff picture in the upcoming seasons.
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