NFL insider reveals potential contract figures for Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins

The Cincinnati Bengals could be drawing closer to signing wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins to long-term contracts. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler — it’s going to cost them.

“Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins are close on new deals, mega-extensions. [The Bengals] could be spending $70 million a year two wide receivers, which is a lot allocated for just that position,” Fowler explained. “But Ja’Marr Chase, the expectation league-wide is that he could be a $40 million a year man, because executive Duke Tobin is on the record that they want him to be the highest paid non-quarterback.”

Myles Garrett is currently the highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL. He recently inked a deal to stay with the Cleveland Browns on a record-extension that averages $40 million per year and includes $123.5 million in guaranteed money. Chase’s contract ends after the 2025-26 season, which means the Bengals would have to pay him accordingly based on Tobin’s statement.

For Higgins, the Bengals used their franchise tag on Higgins for the second consecutive season. This past season, Higgins played under a franchise tag of $21.8 million.

“Tee Higgins really is a little bit of a wild card here, because he’s on the franchise tag at a low number,” Fowler explained. “At $26 million, it’s going to cost more than that to get a long term deal done with him. The people I’ve talked to in the league expect this to fall somewhere maybe $28-29 million a year. Maybe he gets to $30 [million].

“They still have to work out some of those details, but my understanding is both of these are close to done, if not done at this point.”

Higgins finished the 2024 season with 73 catches for 911 yards and 10 touchdowns, tied for the sixth-most in the NFL. He’s spent all five of his seasons in the NFL with the Bengals. For Chase, he led the NFL in receiving yards (1,708), touchdowns (17) and receptions (127) last season.

Despite these numbers, 9-8 overall and just missed out on the postseason. They would finish third in the AFC North behind the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Fowler also touched on the Bengals’ future with Trey Hendrickson, who has been rumored to be on the trade block in recent weeks. However, Fowler said the Bengals aren’t “overly eager” to send him off. It could take a “big haul” — even a first-round pick — to take Hendrickson off Cincinnati’s hands.