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The wait is over.
The Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday agreed to the terms of new contracts with wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins that will keep them playing with quarterback Joe Burrow for years to come. Chase will get a four-year, $161-million deal and Higgins gets four years at $115 million, according to Jordan Schultz. The Enquirer has confirmed Schultz's report.
On a yearly basis, Chase will make $40.2 million and Higgins will make $28 million. Burrow, Higgins and Chase are now under contract together with the Bengals through the 2028 season. Chase and Burrow's contracts go through the 2029 season.
This is one of the most significant days in franchise history because of the popularity of these two players and what it means moving forward. For the last few years, one of the most popular storylines to discuss for pundits across the NFL has been related to contract talks between the Bengals and these receivers.
Now that these deals are done, the Bengals know their identity and it revolves around Burrow, Chase and Higgins. Since 2021, Cincinnati is 34-18 when this trio is available to play.
There were plenty of times questions were raised on if the Bengals were going to be able to keep all three players. In retaining all three stars, it’s clear Cincinnati believes the best chance to win a Super Bowl is with all three players on long-term deals.
Chase, 25, is now the highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL. After leading the NFL in catches (127), yards (1,708) and touchdowns (17) last season, Chase cemented his case as the NFL’s top wideout.
The Bengals vowed to make him the highest-paid non-quarterback at the NFL combine and then the Cleveland Browns reset the market when they gave defensive end Myles Garrett a new deal that pays him $40 million annually. In order for Chase to claim the title the Bengals promised him, his average annual salary needed to top Garrett’s.
Higgins, 26, is finally cashing in on a long-term deal. When the Bengals placed the franchise tag on Higgins ahead of the 2024 season, it felt like the end of an era for Higgins with the Bengals. Then things changed when Higgins parted ways with his former agent David Mulugheta and hired Rocky Arceneaux, who represents Chase.
Burrow also started to become more vocal about his desire to keep Higgins with Chase in Cincinnati. From then on, it became clear Burrow, Chase and Higgins wanted to stay together, but it was going to be up to the Bengals’ front office to make it happen and they did.
“I’m confident we are going to be able to do what it takes to bring Tee (Higgins) back,” Burrow said after the Bengals’ win in Dallas on Dec. 9.
The biggest question for Higgins moving forward will be his health. He’s missed five games with soft tissue injuries in each of the last two seasons and given the amount of money the Bengals are paying him, they need him to be available.
In 70 games for the Bengals, Higgins has caught 330 passes for 4,595 yards and 34 touchdowns.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins contracts with Cincinnati Bengals
Continue reading...
The Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday agreed to the terms of new contracts with wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins that will keep them playing with quarterback Joe Burrow for years to come. Chase will get a four-year, $161-million deal and Higgins gets four years at $115 million, according to Jordan Schultz. The Enquirer has confirmed Schultz's report.
On a yearly basis, Chase will make $40.2 million and Higgins will make $28 million. Burrow, Higgins and Chase are now under contract together with the Bengals through the 2028 season. Chase and Burrow's contracts go through the 2029 season.
This is one of the most significant days in franchise history because of the popularity of these two players and what it means moving forward. For the last few years, one of the most popular storylines to discuss for pundits across the NFL has been related to contract talks between the Bengals and these receivers.
Now that these deals are done, the Bengals know their identity and it revolves around Burrow, Chase and Higgins. Since 2021, Cincinnati is 34-18 when this trio is available to play.
There were plenty of times questions were raised on if the Bengals were going to be able to keep all three players. In retaining all three stars, it’s clear Cincinnati believes the best chance to win a Super Bowl is with all three players on long-term deals.
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Chase, 25, is now the highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL. After leading the NFL in catches (127), yards (1,708) and touchdowns (17) last season, Chase cemented his case as the NFL’s top wideout.
The Bengals vowed to make him the highest-paid non-quarterback at the NFL combine and then the Cleveland Browns reset the market when they gave defensive end Myles Garrett a new deal that pays him $40 million annually. In order for Chase to claim the title the Bengals promised him, his average annual salary needed to top Garrett’s.
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Higgins, 26, is finally cashing in on a long-term deal. When the Bengals placed the franchise tag on Higgins ahead of the 2024 season, it felt like the end of an era for Higgins with the Bengals. Then things changed when Higgins parted ways with his former agent David Mulugheta and hired Rocky Arceneaux, who represents Chase.
Burrow also started to become more vocal about his desire to keep Higgins with Chase in Cincinnati. From then on, it became clear Burrow, Chase and Higgins wanted to stay together, but it was going to be up to the Bengals’ front office to make it happen and they did.
“I’m confident we are going to be able to do what it takes to bring Tee (Higgins) back,” Burrow said after the Bengals’ win in Dallas on Dec. 9.
The biggest question for Higgins moving forward will be his health. He’s missed five games with soft tissue injuries in each of the last two seasons and given the amount of money the Bengals are paying him, they need him to be available.
In 70 games for the Bengals, Higgins has caught 330 passes for 4,595 yards and 34 touchdowns.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins contracts with Cincinnati Bengals
Continue reading...
