The Cincinnati Bengals broke their mold by recently signing Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins to massive extensions. They’re arguably the best receiver duo in the NFL, and quarterback Joe Burrow’s public calls to get his guys paid have been answered.
Now, Burrow will have to hold up his end of the bargain, with the pressure firmly on his shoulders, as “Unsportsmanlike” radio co-host Michelle Smallmon recently pointed out.
Bengals Pay Their Guys, Joe Burrow Gets the Pressure
Burrow spent the early part of this offseason publicly calling out Cincinnati for not extending Chase or Higgins. The team first responded by placing the franchise tag on Higgins, guaranteeing him $26.2 million for 2025.
Since then, Myles Garrett became the highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL by signing a $40 million-per-year extension with the Cleveland Browns. Chase was expected to hit $40 million with his next deal, but Garrett’s new contract raised that number even higher.
Eventually, the Bengals broke the bank, giving Chase a four-year, $161 million contract with $112 million guaranteed. They also signed Higgins to a four-year, $115 million extension.
These moves lock up Burrow and his top two targets for the foreseeable future, but Smallmon believes this puts all the pressure squarely on the quarterback.
"If this ends up being a situation where the offense continues to roll and the defense continues to suffer, and the results on the field aren't any better — we are going to look at Joe Burrow squarely." @msmallmon https://t.co/pi22KD2rpj pic.twitter.com/W7uKrvWWvx
— UNSPORTSMANLIKE Radio (@UnSportsESPN) March 17, 2025
Smallmon started by addressing Chase and Higgins, saying, “My first thought was, ‘Good for them’ because they have both earned this. They have both been so incredibly productive throughout their careers. Ja’Marr Chase is coming off one of the best seasons that we’ve seen from a wide receiver in NFL history. We know how productive Tee Higgins is, so good for them getting their money, especially from the Cincinnati Bengals.
“My next thought was…how does this impact the side of the ball that needed improving? Great for Joe Burrow and the offense that you have this wide receiver tandem, who’s arguably the best tandem in the entire NFL and young. Ja’Marr Chase is a fresh 25, Tee Higgins is 26. You have them locked up for their primes. This is great for the offensive side of the ball, but how does it affect the defensive side of the ball, or the team holistically?”
Cincinnati’s defense finished No. 28 in PFSN’s Defense+ metric for 2024 and was a key reason the team failed to reach the playoffs.
Smallmon continued, “My third thought was, just like we said it with Caleb Williams publicly campaigning for Ben Johnson. Just like we said it for Aaron Rodgers after he publicly campaigned for Nathaniel Hackett and got him, and Davante Adams, etc. Now, this is on Joe Burrow. You go out there and you very publicly campaign for your guys to get paid.
“If this ends up being a situation where the offense continues to roll and the defense continues to suffer, and the results on the field aren’t any better. Where you’re not making the playoffs, or barely making the playoffs and having an early exit. We are going to look at Joe Burrow squarely.
“Yes, it’s the organization that elected to do this, but they’re also in a very tough position where you don’t want to anger your franchise quarterback and one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. So, there’s more pressure on him now to get this done.”
Burrow would likely agree that the pressure is on him and welcome it. The five-year pro has gotten what he wanted, and nothing short of a Super Bowl victory will satisfy him.