The Cincinnati Bengals are in the middle of negotiations, or lack thereof, with start receivers, Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase. Neither star has participated in the team’s optional OTAs thus far and neither likely will. Higgins hasn’t signed his franchise tag to this point, so he couldn’t participate even if he wanted to. Chase, on the other hand, is just training away from the team and putting on youth camps.
On June 3, Justin Jefferson and the Minnesota Vikings agreed to a monster extension, good for four years and $140 million with $110 guaranteed. Naturally, the thought processes shift to Higgins and Chase and what their eventual contracts will look like.
Bengals Fans React to Record Contract for Justin Jefferson
Higgins and Chase are two of the league’s best receivers and it’s only natural that they will want to get theirs. To this point, Higgins and the Bengals have been far apart in negotiations. The receiver has reportedly been looking for Michael Pittman-esque numbers and not a market-setting contract as Chase will.
The team and Higgins’ agent David Mulugheta have a tumultuous history, most notably in the Jessie Bates III saga.
When the Bengals Star receiver was selected in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft, there were high expectations. He took over as the top receiver in the offense with A.J. Green‘s best years behind him.
Higgins posted 908 yards and six touchdowns as a rookie. Then, he accounted for back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons despite playing WR2 to Ja’Marr Chase.
Last season, he was hampered by injuries and still managed 656 yards and five touchdowns.
Thus far, Higgins has averaged 63.5 yards per game and has scored a touchdown on 6% of his targets. For reference, Chase sits at 82.6 and 7%.
What Does This Mean for Ja’Marr Chase?
Jefferson has been the top receiver in the NFL for a few years now. Right behind him has often been Chase. The 2021 Offensive Rookie of the Year is a three-time Pro Bowler and earned Second-Team All-Pro honors as a rookie. In his three years in Cincinnati, Chase has hauled in 268 passes for 3,717 yards and 29 touchdowns.
On too many occasions, the Bengals’ offense went as Chase went. He has been the deciding factor in a number of crucial games. Most notably, his 11-catch, 266-yard, three-touchdown effort against the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2021-22 season to clinch the AFC North.
Last year, Chase set the Bengals single-game receptions record in his 15-catch, 192-yard, three-touchdown performance against the Arizona Cardinals.
The feeling around the league is that Chase will be in the same ballpark if not greater than Jefferson’s deal. Cincinnati has historically paid its WR1s with Chad Johnson and A.J. Green receiving second and even third contracts with the team.
The question for the Bengals and Chase is less a matter of if and more when and how.
Bengals Fans React
Bengals officially on the clock for the Uno Sweepstakes. https://t.co/jITtXjkyse
— ZIM (@zimwhodey) June 3, 2024
Ja’Marr Chase and CeeDee Lamb hearing the Justin Jefferson contract news pic.twitter.com/TKJGjYKPgu
— Playmaker TD 🏈 (@playmakerTD) June 3, 2024
The Bengals will of course extend Chase and they'll have no choice in deviating from their traditional guarantee structure.
The deal will likely include option bonuses like Burrow's deal.
If the Bengals get 4 new years now, expect the AAV to be decidedly above Jefferson's $35M. https://t.co/o3aYHBK4yv
— Andre Perrotta (@andreperrotta13) June 3, 2024
RIP Bengals-Jefferson trade rumours
— Bengals UK (@WhoDey_UK) June 3, 2024
