In the last five years, the Cincinnati Bengals have established one of the NFL’s most thrilling and potent offenses, finishing in the top third of the league in offensive yards per game on three occasions. The two seasons that fell outside this trend were marred by quarterback Joe Burrow’s significant injuries. With Burrow at the helm, paired with talented wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, the Bengals remain formidable contenders.
Cincinnati’s decision to secure Chase and Higgins on long-term contracts seemed inevitable, and on Sunday night, they made it official. According to Fox’s Jordan Schultz, the Bengals struck huge contract extensions with both players.
BREAKING: #Bengals WRs Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins exclusively tell me they’ve agreed to contract extensions with the team.
Ja’Marr gets: 4-years, $161M with $112M guaranteed — making him the highest-paid non-QB in NFL history.
Tee gets: 4-years, $115M with the first two… pic.twitter.com/zbdnEDELgz
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) March 17, 2025
As noted by Schultz, Chase’s four-year, $161 million contract includes a staggering $112 million guaranteed, making him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history. Higgins, on the other hand, has a deal that could yield him $115 million over four years, with only the first two years guaranteed.
Since being selected fifth overall in the 2021 NFL Draft, Chase has become one of the NFL’s premier wide receivers, accumulating 5,425 receiving yards and 46 touchdowns over four seasons. Last season, he led the league in both categories, posting franchise records of 1,708 yards and 17 touchdowns, and he has been named to four Pro Bowls and twice selected as a First Team All-Pro. Higgins, while not as decorated, is a powerful second wide receiver with 4,595 yards and 34 touchdowns in his five-year career, adept at relieving pressure on Chase and providing Burrow with another offensive threat.
The news sent social media into a frenzy:
snapped
https://t.co/tpCcaDhaOM
— zay flowers (@ZayFlowers) March 17, 2025
LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLEEEEEEEEEEEEEETSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO https://t.co/tb1Mue4tln
— Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful.com (@SeanRossSapp) March 17, 2025
They had to do it. It’s useless to spend time talking about how tight the balance sheet will get from here and how well they’ll have to scout offensive line and defensive talent in the draft from here. Just impressed that the players successfully threw their weight around. https://t.co/ZbNC3OU9je
— Diante Lee (@DianteLeeFB) March 17, 2025
The Bengals will have the first ever 33rd ranked defense in NFL history https://t.co/7UP8QZa1D7
— Guardian of 1994 Wingate Drive (@RyanDay2Heaven) March 17, 2025
