The Cincinnati Bengals’ will-they-won’t-they arc is over.
The Bengals have agreed to a pair of massive contract extensions with Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase that will total $270 million in earnings.
Higgins previously told his social media followers that he would let them know about a deal first, and he delivered on his promise.
Tee Higgins, Ja’Marr Chase Ink Massive Deals With Bengals
Higgins dropped simple reactions on X throughout the free agency cycle, giving updates on his franchise tag and more, staying true to his February guarantee.
On March 16, he broke his own news about a deal being struck and the post quickly went viral.
🤝
— Tee Higgins⁵ (@teehiggins5) March 17, 2025
Slated to play on the franchise tag for the second year in a row, Higgins finally got the long-term deal he was looking for: a massive four-year deal worth $115 million that makes him the highest-paid WR2 in NFL history, according to Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz.
However, this was just the teaser, as Chase hit the highest-paid non-QB mark that the Bengals’ front office had assured him earlier in the offseason. After Myles Garrett raised the price tag, Chase doubled back with a four-year deal of his own, this one worth $161 million with $112 million guaranteed.
The Bengals’ star duo have combined for some massive numbers in their short careers in Cincinnati. Higgins has 4,595 yards and 34 TDs in five seasons, while Chase has totaled an astounding 5,425 yards and 46 TDs in just four seasons.
Higgins reportedly requested a trade last offseason, leading to speculation about whether his future would remain at Paycor Stadium. However, despite the years of discussions about where he would spend the second stage of his career, he will remain in southwest Ohio.
The savvy move that might have guaranteed that Higgins and Chase stayed together for the long run may have been when the former second-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft changed representation, joining Chase under agent Rocky Arceneaux. With the same man representing both players, it presented Cincinnati with a dilemma: pay both or potentially lose both.
While the Bengals are bringing back their stars on offense — with Higgins in town through 2028 and Chase and Joe Burrow through 2029 — there are still concerns for their 2025 outlook after missing out on the postseason in 2024.
The Bengals finished seventh in PFSN’s Offense+ metric (83.4, B) last season, proving that the trio can make an effective unit. However, the Bengals ranked 28th in PFSN’s Defense+ metric.
While there are more details to figure out, the Bengals are retaining the cornerstones that brought them to a Super Bowl just a few years ago.
The 2025 NFL Draft could be crucial in shaping their next five seasons, but Bengals fans can rest easy knowing one side of the ball is secured for a while.