Joe Burrow Talks Chase, Higgins Contracts, Says Bengals are 'Paying the Right Guys'

Cincinnati Bengals superstar quarterback Joe Burrow showed his approval Tuesday for the organization's decision to sign wide receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins to long-term contracts.

Speaking to Geoff Hobson of the Bengals' official website, Burrow said:

"You never know how somebody's career is going to work out. So we might be together until the end of somebody's career or we might move on after that.

"But for the next four years, you know what you're going to get from us and we're going to be right here. We're paying the right guys. Guys who work really hard for what they have. Guys who aren't going to get complacent or anything like that. Guys who really care about the product they put on the field, and care about the fans and the organization and the people in the locker room. We've got the right guys."

According to Fox Sports (h/t ESPN's Ben Baby), Chase agreed to a four-year, $161 million contract with $112 million guaranteed over the weekend, while Higgins and the Bengals reached a four-year, $115 million deal on the same day.

Chase, who was set to enter the final year of his rookie contract, is now the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history in terms of average annual value.

Meanwhile, Higgins avoided having to play on the franchise tag for a second consecutive season.

During an appearance on FS1's Breakfast Ball (h/t Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic) in February, Burrow expressed his desire to see the Bengals sign all of Chase, Higgins, tight end Mike Gesicki and pass-rusher Trey Hendrickson to new contracts, saying: "We have the cap space to get it done. I want to make it happen. Everybody involved: Trey, Tee, Ja'Marr, Mike G, we all want to stay together. When you have guys that are motivated like that, I think you can get those things done."

With the re-signings of both Chase and Higgins, Hendrickson is the only one still without a new deal, as Gesicki was re-signed previously.

Chase, 25, may have cemented his status as the best wideout in the NFL last season when he won the receiving Triple Crown with 127 receptions for 1,708 yards and 17 touchdowns.

Over four NFL seasons, he is a four-time Pro Bowler and one-time First Team All-Pro, plus he has compiled a total of 5,425 receiving yards.

If Chase is the best receiver in football, Higgins may be the top WR2 based on his production over the past five years.

The 26-year-old has eclipsed 900 receiving yards in four of his five seasons, including hitting the 1,000-yard mark in both 2021 and 2022.

Injuries limited Higgins to only 12 games last season, but he still put up big numbers with 73 receptions for 911 yards and a career-high 10 touchdowns.

With Chase and Higgins making life miserable for opposing defensive backs last season, Burrow enjoyed a career year, as he threw for 4,918 yards, 43 touchdowns and nine interceptions.

Despite that, the Bengals missed the playoffs with a 9-8 record, marking the second straight season they failed to reach the playoffs.

The Bengals will need better play out of their defense and offensive line to return to contender status, but with Burrow, Chase and Higgins all locked in for years to come, they should continue to have one of the NFL's most potent offenses.