The Cincinnati Bengals are gearing up for a big offseason. Their goal? To lock down three key players: wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, and defensive end Trey Hendrickson.
It’s not certain if they’ll succeed, but the team is committed to giving it a shot. The focus is currently on Higgins, who is about to enter free agency on March 12. If the Bengals can’t agree on a long-term deal by the March 4 deadline, they might place the franchise tag on him. This would ensure they have more time to negotiate, as a source mentioned, “Can’t let him walk.”
According to Sports Illustrated, the Bengals are likely to use a nonexclusive franchise tag on Higgins. This would allow both sides until July 15 to work out a deal. If no agreement is reached, Higgins would earn about $26.17 million for 2025, a significant increase from his previous franchise tag of $21.8 million in 2024.
On the other side, Chase had an incredible season last year. He led the NFL with 1,708 receiving yards, 17 touchdowns, and 127 receptions. He’s expected to demand a contract that makes him the highest-paid wide receiver in the league. Meanwhile, Hendrickson has been impressive too, recording 17.5 sacks in consecutive years, placing him among the top pass rushers in a rapidly growing market.
Quarterback Joe Burrow is fully on board with the Bengals’ plans. He recently discussed how his own hefty contract extension could give the team more room to maneuver under the salary cap. Burrow mentioned options like converting parts of his salary into a signing bonus, which would lower the immediate cap hit and allow more flexibility.
It’s clear the Bengals are aiming to keep their star players together, and Burrow is ready to help make that happen. The coming months will be critical as they work to build a strong future.
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