The Cincinnati Bengals finished last season with a 9-8 record, missing the playoffs for the second straight year. Heading into the offseason, the Bengals have several internal free agency decisions to make, which will have a long-term impact on the team’s future.
At the start of March, the Bengals placed the franchise tag on wide receiver Tee Higgins, signaling their intent to work toward a long-term deal to keep him in Cincinnati. The team also entered the offseason needing to address star wideout Ja’Marr Chase’s future. Chase had a huge 2024 season and is expected to become one of the highest-paid non-quarterbacks in the NFL.
Many analysts believed the Bengals wouldn’t be able to re-sign both talented receivers, meaning one of them would likely be the odd man out.
Why Did This NFL Analyst Say the Bengals’ Front Office Is ‘Bats*** Insane?’
Chase and Higgins are two of the most coveted wide receivers in the league. While neither has officially signed an extension, NFL insider Tom Pelissero shared an update on Friday, March 14, shedding light on the situation.
“The Bengals have made significant progress on contract extensions with Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, and both deals could be finalized in the coming days,” Pelissero said on X.
This report — suggesting the Bengals may bring back both receivers — led NFL analyst Brett Kollmann to question the front office’s decision-making.
“I think two things are true. I was wrong that the Bengals are going to trade Tee. Cincinnati being 3rd in QB spending and 1st in WR spending by nearly $30 million AAV while also being 28th in OL spending is a bats*** insane way to build a football team,” Kollman said.
I think two things are true.
– I was wrong that the Bengals are going to trade Tee.
– Cincinnati being 3rd in QB spending and 1st in WR spending by nearly 30 million AAV while also being 28th in OL spending is a batshit insane way to build a football team.
— Brett Kollmann (@BrettKollmann) March 15, 2025
Kollmann argues that the team should be investing heavily in the offensive line since quarterback Joe Burrow has battled injuries, twice winning the NFL Comeback Player of the Year award.
“The quarterback won comeback player of the year TWICE in his first five seasons because he got hurt so much but sure let’s just spent on receiver because it’s fun,” Kollmann added.
Burrow first won the award in 2021 when he led the Bengals to a Super Bowl appearance after suffering a major knee injury as a rookie. This past season, he had one of his best performances, throwing for 4,918 yards and 43 touchdowns.
The quarterback won comeback player of the year TWICE in his first five seasons because he got hurt so much but sure let's just spend on receiver because it's fun
— Brett Kollmann (@BrettKollmann) March 15, 2025
ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter weighed in on Chase’s contract situation, which is expected to make him the highest-paid wide receiver in the NFL.
“The expectation around the league is that Ja’Marr Chase’s new deal, if and when it gets done, will average somewhere in the range of $40.1 million to $41 million per year, topping Myles Garrett and making him the highest-paid non-QB in the NFL, as the Bengals said he would be,” Schefter said on X.
The NFL announced that the 2025 salary cap is set at $279.5 million, a significant increase from last year’s $255.4 million limit. Chase racked up 1,708 receiving yards, 127 receptions, and 17 touchdowns last season, becoming just the sixth triple-crown winner in the Super Bowl era. In just 12 games, Higgins posted 911 receiving yards, 73 receptions, and 10 touchdowns in 2024.
Who Are the Highest-Paid WRs in the NFL?
It appears Chase and Higgins will both sign lucrative deals in the near future, with the former becoming the highest-paid wide receiver in NFL history.
Who are the league’s highest-paid wideouts as of right now?
Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings | AAV: $35 Million
Topping the list of highest-paid wide receivers is Minnesota Vikings superstar Justin Jefferson. Jefferson signed a four-year, $140 million extension with $110 million guaranteed during the 2024 offseason — the biggest NFL contract for a non-QB at the time.
Jefferson’s $35 million annual salary topped San Francisco 49ers edge rusher Nick Bosa’s $34 million as the highest for a non-QB in the NFL at the time. Furthermore, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the deal includes $88.743 million due at signing, the highest non-QB guarantee at signing in NFL history at the time.
Jefferson averaged 98 catches, 1,474 yards, and 7.5 touchdowns over his first four seasons in Minnesota. He’s a four-time Pro Bowler and four-time All-Pro who earned the NFL’s Offensive Player of the Year award in 2022.
CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys | AAV: $34 Million
After holding out throughout OTAs, training camp, and the entirety of the 2024 preseason, CeeDee Lamb and the Dallas Cowboys finally reached an agreement on a four-year extension worth $136 million. The deal included $100 million guaranteed, plus a wide-receiver record at the time of $38 million signing bonus. Lamb was made the second-highest-paid non-QB in NFL history at the time, trailing only Jefferson.
Lamb’s receptions, receiving yards, and touchdown total improved every year for his first four seasons, and while he did not continue that trend in 2024, he still had an impressive campaign despite the sputtering offense. In 2023, he led all players with 135 receptions and 680 yards after the catch while also totaling 1,749 yards and 12 touchdowns.
A.J. Brown, Philadelphia Eagles | AAV: $32 Million
The Philadelphia Eagles and star WR A.J. Brown agreed to terms on a three-year extension for $96 million during the 2024 offseason. He’s under contract through 2029.
Before the new deal, Brown was tied for fourth in the league with a $25 million figure for his AAV dating back to an extension signed shortly after he was traded to the Eagles on the first night of the 2022 NFL Draft.
With this contract, Brown joined an exclusive club of NFL wide receivers with $100 million contracts — one of just seven wideouts with a nine-figure deal. The others are Jefferson, Lamb, Amon-Ra St. Brown (four years, $120.01 million, DK Metcalf (five years, $150 million), Tyreek Hill (four years, $120 million), and Brandon Aiyuk (four years, $120 million). Chase and Higgins will likely both join this club in the near future.