NFL Exec Jokes Joe Burrow Should Get 'Credit' For Chase, Higgins' Bengals Contracts

After the Cincinnati Bengals signed star receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins to massive contract extensions this offseason, some believe star quarterback Joe Burrow was the catalyst to make it happen.

One NFL executive joked to The Athletic's Mike Sando that "the credit should go to" Burrow, who was described as the "de facto [general manager]."

"It just proves that our league is becoming more like the NBA, with top players having more control," an exec said.

Burrow previously advocated for the Bengals to keep the band together by signing both Chase and Higgins. While he got his wish, another exec wondered if Cincinnati sacrificed the ability to improve in other areas.

"The thought of keeping their quarterback happy is good," the exec said, "but how can you build around him to get him where he needs to go? I’m going to go with fronts and defense over skill, especially when you already have one of the highest-paid receivers. To sign another one (Higgins) is interesting to me."

Chase was signed to a four-year, $161 million deal that includes $112 million guaranteed, making him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history with an average annual salary of $40.25 million. Higgins, who received the franchise tag for the second straight year, agreed to a four-year, $115 million deal that is guaranteed for the first two years.

Another exec told Sando that the Bengals could've saved money by signing both wideouts to new deals last offseason instead of waiting for this year, as they still have other areas on the roster that need to be addressed.

"They definitely needed to retain Chase, and then Higgins should have been a tag-and-trade candidate because you need the draft capital and you have to rebuild your defense," the exec said. "You could have made Trey Hendrickson happy (with a new deal) and have a draft pick if you moved on from Higgins."

Hendrickson was granted permission to seek a trade earlier this offseason, and ESPN's Ben Baby reported on Monday that he and Cincinnati remain at a contract impasse.

Still, Burrow should be satisfied with the Bengals' commitment to keeping the offense intact, as Chase and Higgins will remain one of the best receiver tandems in the league for years to come.