Report: Bengals nearing resolution to Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins contract talks

Earlier this month, the Cincinnati Bengals used their franchise tag on wide receiver Tee Higgins for the second consecutive season. Moreover, star wideout Ja’Marr Chase‘s contract ends after the 2025-26 season and he is due for a massive new deal. On Friday, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport provided an update on both players’ contract talks with the Bengals.

“The #Bengals have made significant progress on massive contract extensions with star WRs Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, and both could be finalized in the coming days,” Rapoport wrote. “There is work to be done. But Joe Burrow’s wish is close to coming true.”

ESPN’s Adam Schefter seconded Rapoport’s report, writing the Bengals are working to “get both wide receivers signed as soon as possible.” It won’t be a cheap endeavor for the organization.

Higgins played under a franchise tag of $21.8 million last season. He finished the year 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.

The Bengals had until March 12 to come to a long-term agreement with Higgins but had to use their franchise tag by March 4. At the NFL Scouting Combine on Feb. 25, Bengals director of player personnel Duke Tobin clarified he wants Higgins to remain a part of the organization.

“Tee Higgins is a fantastic football player, and I want him on my football team,” Tobin said. “Whenever I’m in charge of a football team, I want Tee Higgins, and so I’m going to do what I can to get Tee Higgins. Our preference with Tee Higgins is to do a long-term agreement. Always has been, it continues to be, and we’ll work hard to get that done.

“We are fortunate. We’ve got a lot of really good football players, fantastic football players, and we’re fortunate to be in a position to where we can fit them all in. We’ve managed our cap well. We’ve got low dead money. We want a high payroll and low dead money, so the people that are in Cincinnati playing for us can get all the money. That’s what we want. And we’re in a position to re-sign these guys.”

Evidently, the Bengals might have a long-term deal with Higgins locked down soon. He isn’t the only one whose future in Cincinnati could be secured in the coming days. Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Bengals plan on making Chase the highest-paid non-QB in the NFL to keep him with the organization.

“We’re going to reward Ja’Marr,” Tobin said.

Chase led the NFL in receiving yards (1,708), touchdowns (17) and receptions (127) last season. The Minnesota Vikings’ Justin Jefferson is currently the highest-paid wide receiver in the NFL, earning an average of $35 million a year. To keep Chase around for the foreseeable future, the Bengals will likely have to top this number.