The Cincinnati Bengals are hoping to pull off an ambitious — and expensive — offseason.
The team will attempt to secure a trio of stars who need new deals — wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins and defensive end Trey Hendrickson — for the long term, sources told ESPN.
Whether Cincinnati can pull it off remains uncertain, but the team’s messaging behind the scenes is that it’s certainly going to try.
That starts with Higgins, who is set to hit free agency March 12. One team source says they believe the Bengals will use the franchise tag on Higgins if no long-term deal is reached by the March 4 tag deadline “in order to have time to get a deal done. Can’t let him walk.”
Chase, coming off a triple-crown season for most receiving yards (1,708), touchdowns (17) and receptions (127), will be looking to be the highest-paid wide receiver in the NFL — possibly by a wide margin. And Hendrickson has back-to-back years of 17.5 sacks, leading the league in 2024, at a time when elite pass rushers are making above $30 million per year. The fast-growing pass-rush market also could spark trade movement around the league, especially if the Cleveland Browns entertain Myles Garrett‘s wishes to play for a new team.
Quarterback Joe Burrow has been vocal this offseason on wanting the Bengals to spend to keep his three star teammates. In an extended interview with the “Pardon My Take” podcast that was released last Wednesday, Burrow was asked to describe how his five-year, $275 million contract extension signed in 2023 could be altered and help give the Bengals extra salary cap flexibility.
“You could convert some of the money to a signing bonus, which will lower the cap hit,” Burrow said. “You can push some of the money to the back end of the contract. That lowers the cap hit. And then when you get to the back end of the contract, you can restructure it and convert it to a signing bonus. You can also just take less money.”
Later in the interview, Burrow pointed out that most players just convert the money into a signing bonus, a method he said he was willing to pursue.
Besides Chase, Higgins, and Hendrickson, are there any other Bengals players whose contracts are significant concerns this offseason?
Bengals’ Big Offseason: Your Burning Questions Answered
The Cincinnati Bengals are aiming for a blockbuster offseason, hoping to lock down their core stars. Here’s a breakdown of what you need to know:
Q: Who are the Bengals trying to re-sign?
A: Wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, along with defensive end Trey Hendrickson, are the key players Cincinnati wants to secure long-term.
Q: Why is Tee Higgins’ contract situation especially pressing?
A: Higgins hits free agency on March 12. Sources suggest the Bengals will use the franchise tag on him if a long-term deal isn’t reached by March 4, ensuring they retain him.
Q: How much are chase and Hendrickson likely to command?
A: Chase, coming off a record-breaking season, is aiming to become the highest-paid wide receiver in the NFL. Hendrickson, with consecutive seasons of 17.5 sacks, is expected to earn upwards of $30 million annually, reflecting the rising market for elite pass rushers.
Q: Has Joe Burrow offered any solutions to help the Bengals afford these contracts?
A: Yes! Burrow, in recent interviews, suggested converting some of his contract’s money into signing bonuses, pushing payments to the contract’s later years, or even taking a slight pay cut to create more salary cap space.
Q: Could Myles Garrett’s situation impact the Bengals’ plans?
A: possibly.If the Cleveland Browns trade Garrett, it could spark a domino effect in the pass-rush market, possibly influencing Hendrickson’s contract negotiations.
The Bengals’ offseason hinges on these contract negotiations. Will they manage to keep their core together? Stay tuned!
