Ochocinco: Ja'Marr Chase Signs Contract This Week; Tee Higgins Leaves Bengals in 2025

Chad "Ochocinco" Johnson gave his thoughts on the future of Cincinnati Bengals wide receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.

The former Bengals star predicted a new contract for Chase and Higgins' eventual departure in free agency during a Saturday appearance on The Adam Schefter Podcast.

"Ja'Marr's deal will get done probably sometime this week," he said. "Definitely before the season starts, absolutely."

He added that Chase isn't "touching the field" if a new contract agreement isn't reached before the regular season begins.

The six-time Pro Bowl receiver also expects Higgins to leave in 2025 after playing on a franchise tag.

"Well Tee, I think Tee's going to play obviously on the franchise tag this year," Johnson said. "He'll be going somewhere else and he'll get what's deserving of him: Being paid like a number one receiver."

Higgins is playing on the $21.8 million franchise tag in 2024 before he's slated to hit free agency next offseason. The 25-year-old initially requested a trade in March due to a lack of long-term extension negotiations, but he eventually announced he would stay with the team and play on the tag.

As for Chase, he's still under contract through the 2025 season although he's eligible for a long-term deal of his own. ESPN's Adam Schefter previously reported that there hasn't been much "conversation" between the Bengals and the 2021 Offensive Rookie of the Year, but Johnson appears to be optimistic about a new extension agreement.

In order to prove him right, Cincinnati will need to sign Chase before the team's regular-season opener against the New England Patriots on Sept. 8.