ESPN: Teams Predict Ja'Marr Chase Gets $41M Contract to Set Record, Higgins Under $30M

The Cincinnati Bengals are "close to deals" with wide receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins for a combined outlay of $70-plus million per year, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.

Fowler reported Sunday on SportsCenter that teams around the NFL believe Chase could hit $41 million annually, which would move him past Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett as the highest-paid non-quarterback.

Higgins, meanwhile, "will probably come in somewhere just under $30 million," per Fowler.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Friday the Bengals "made significant progress" with Chase and Higgins, which was music to the ears of fans in Cincinnati.

Once the team applied the franchise tag to Higgins, many likely assumed that was the extent of the Bengals' negotiations. With the exception of quarterback Joe Burrow, they've played hardball with a lot of their best players and in some cases watched them leave for nothing in free agency.

Cincinnati's approach with Higgins and ownership's longstanding reputation for frugality weren't exactly reassuring when it came to Chase's future, either.

Re-signing Burrow to what was then a record-setting $275 million contract showed how the Bengals might be adapting to the times and loosening the purse strings, though. Retaining both Chase and Higgins would be an even stronger signal of intent from the franchise.

Cincinnati would be committing more money to the receiver position than any other team. The Miami Dolphins are spending just under $66.4 million for their receivers, and the Philadelphia Eagles and Los Angeles Rams are the only other two surpassing $60 million.

Paying Chase and Higgins their full market value would limit what the Bengals can spend elsewhere. Fowler cited edge-rusher Trey Hendrickson in particular said it will be "really tough" to give he, Chase and Higgins all new multiyear contracts.

But a lot of fans would probably like to see a spend first, ask questions later strategy deployed by the front office.