The Cincinnati Bengals have made it known they would love to keep wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins together for the long haul, giving quarterback Joe Burrow one of the best wide receiver duos in the league. Duke Tobin, the team’s director of player personnel, emphasized that again on Tuesday when speaking to the media at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.
Along with saying that his goal is to re-sign Higgins to a long-term deal, he also said the team is prepared to make Chase the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history with his next contract.
Chase is entering the final year of his contract and will carry a $21 million salary-cap number in 2025. He had wanted a new extension prior to the 2024 season but was unable to get one from the Bengals, resulting in him not participating in training camp.
Just for context on Tobin’s comment on “highest paid non-quarterback,” that probably means that Chase would be looking at something in the neighborhood of $40 million per season on a salary-cap number.
Chase is coming off a monster 2024 season that saw him lead the NFL in receptions (127), yards (1,708) and touchdowns (17). He is not only arguably the best wide receiver in football, but he is also still in the prime of his career with several years of elite play in front of him.
The Higgins situation is a little more complex.
While Chase is still under contract for another year, Higgins is eligible for free agency this offseason where he will be the top potential player available. He not only has a chance to cash in if he hits the open market, but he also has a chance to get something he wouldn’t get in Cincinnati: the opportunity to be a No. 1 option in an offense.
The Bengals still have the franchise card as an option to play, which could get messy when it comes to contract negotiations.
