The Cincinnati Bengals agreed four -year extensions with the Ja’mar Chase and Tee Higgins receivers, ensuring that Joe Burrow will have his two main objectives with him for some time.
A person familiar with the negotiations told Associated Press that Chase will become the fourth part paid in the history of the NFL, winning $ 161 million, including $ 112 million guaranteed. That exceeds the average of $ 40 million per year by the Cleveland Myles Garrett passes corridor.
Higgins will get $ 115 million. The Bengals placed the franchise label in Higgins, but they hoped to make a new agreement.
The person spoke with the AP on condition of anonymity because the team has not announced the measure.
Fox Sports was the first to inform about extensions.
Chase led the league at receptions (127), yards who received (1,708) and the catches of Touchdown (17) last season, becoming the sixth receiver open in the Super Bowl era to achieve the triple receiving crown.
The staff of the Bengal Players, Duke Tobin, recently reiterated in the NFL exploration combination that wanted to make Chase one of the best paid players in the league.
“Ja’marar will always be our priority,” Tobin said. “He is a fantastic soccer player. It will end up being the non -third paid number 1 in the League. We are there. Let’s do it. “
Chase leads the league to receive TouchDowns (46), third in reception yards (5,425) and sixth in receptions (395) since it was the fifth general selection and the offensive rookie of the year of AP in 2021.
It was an All-Pro selection for the first time in 2024 after having three games with at least 10 trapped and 177 yards. That included 11 trapped for 264 yards and three touchdowns in a 35-34 defeat in Baltimore in a Thursday night game.
Higgins was tied in sixth place in the league last season with 10 Touchdown trapped. He also had 73 receptions for 911 yards and averaged 12.5 yards per capture.
His best game last season was on December 28 against Denver, when he had 11 receptions for 131 yards and three touchdowns, including a 3 -yard score in extra time that kept the live Bengals for another week in the persecution of the postseason. Cincinnati won his last five games to finish 9-8, but the playoffs for the second consecutive year was lost.
“You can get up three years ago, talking about making a long -term agreement with Tee and here we are today, talking about making a long -term agreement,” Tobin said. “Every time I am in charge of a football team, I want Tee Higgins, so I’m going to do what I can to get Tee Higgins.”
Higgins was a second round of the Bengals in 2020, the same Burrow season was the best general selection. Higgins has at least 900 reception yards in four of its five seasons, and had more than 1,000 yards in 2021 and ’22.
The Bengals also expect to reach an extension with Trey Hendrickson even though the corridor of the entire advantage receives permission to find an exchange. Hendrickson is also entering the last year of his contract after leading the league with 17 1/2 captures last season.
“We have many really good football players, fantastic soccer players. And we are lucky to be in a position where we can adapt them to all. We have achieved our cap well, ”said Tobin. “We want a high payroll and low money, so people who are in Cincinnati playing for us can get all the money.
“We want to sign these types again, reward them for their skill level and add the football team. It is a high task, but we believe we are up to it. “
