NFL Insiders: Skepticism That Bengals Will Extend All 3 of Chase, Higgins, Hendrickson

There's uncertainty surrounding the Cincinnati Bengals potentially agreeing to contract extensions with wide receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins as well as defensive end Trey Hendrickson.

"I'm hearing that they are going to try [to sign all three]," ESPN's Jeremy Fowler said on Thursday's SportsCenter. "It's uncertain whether they can pull it off, and a lot of people around the league are skeptical. But they got Trey Hendrickson, Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins. They're going to try to pull all that off if they can."

Fowler previously reported on Monday that Cincinnati will "attempt" to hand long-term contracts to all three players during the 2025 offseason.

The skepticism from around the league could stem from Cincinnati's failure to reach extension agreements with all three players during the 2024 offseason.

Negotiations with Higgins were "all but non-existent" entering the 2024 season, per Fowler. Hendrickson briefly requested a trade in April 2024 after he didn't receive an extension.

Chase reportedly discussed an extension with the Bengals heading into the 2024 season, but a deal never materialized.

All three players are coming off stellar years, which could incentivize Cincinnati to keep them around. Higgins recorded 911 yards and a career-high 10 scores while Chase paced the NFL in receptions (127), receiving yards (1,708) and touchdown catches (17).

Hendrickson also led the league with 17.5 sacks.

The Bengals are reportedly targeting long-term contracts for each player, but there doesn't seem to be a unanimous belief that they'll be able to get all three done.