Bengals Rumors: Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, Hendrickson Eyed for Long-Term Contracts

The Cincinnati Bengals will attempt to lock in Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins and Trey Hendrickson on long-term deals this offseason, per ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.

"Whether Cincinnati can pull it off remains uncertain, but its messaging behind the scenes is that it's certainly going to try," Fowler said.

Whether it’s possible remains unknown, but negotiations will begin with wide receiver Tee Higgins, who hits free agency on March 12. If a long-term deal isn’t reached by the March 4 franchise-tag deadline, he is expected to receive the tag “in order to have time to get a deal done. Can't let him walk,” a team source told Fowler.

Sports Illustrated's James Rapien reported that if tagged, Cincinnati would have until July 15 to negotiate a long-term deal with Higgins. Without an agreement, he would play the 2025 season on a $26.17 million contract.

The 26-year-old was previously given a $21.8 million franchise tag in 2024 and a second tag triggers a 20 percent salary increase, per Rapien.

Higgins finished last season with 73 receptions, 911 yards and 10 touchdowns in 12 games.

Chase also had a standout year, securing the triple crown with league highs in receiving yards (1,708), touchdowns (17) and receptions (127). At just 24 years old, he is projected to become the NFL’s highest-paid wide receiver, per Fowler.

Meanwhile, Hendrickson, the 30-year-old defensive end, posted 17.5 sacks, 33 solo tackles and two forced fumbles last season, positioning himself for a top-tier contract, as elite pass-rushers now command over $30 million annually.

Following Cincinnati's 9-8 season and playoff absence, Joe Burrow is eager for the team to retain all three players, even suggesting adjustments to his five-year, $275 million contract to improve the Bengals’ salary-cap flexibility.

"You could convert some of the money to a signing bonus, which will lower the cap hit," the quarterback said on Wednesday, per Fowler. "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."

The Bengals will need to make significant moves over the next month to retain their top talent.