The Cincinnati Bengals signed Ja’Marr Chase to a four-year, $161-million extension and Tee Higgins to a four-year deal worth $115 million, the receivers told Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz.
Chase’s deal, which also contains $112 million guaranteed, makes him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history, while Higgins is the highest-paid second-string wide receiver ever, Schultz adds.
Higgins’ extension can also reach over $30 million per year with incentives, per Schultz.
Chase’s average annual value of $40.25 million per year also surpasses the previous wide receiver record set by Minnesota Vikings wideout and former LSU teammate Justin Jefferson. Jefferson’s deal, which he signed last season, averages $35 million per year, according to Over The Cap.
Higgins appeared to confirm an agreement had been reached when he posted a handshake emoji on X. Chase posted an identical message.
It was reported Friday that the Bengals were nearing contract extensions with both their star receivers.
The contract extensions keep the trio of Chase, Higgins, and quarterback Joe Burrow together for the long-term future. Chase, who was entering the final year of his rookie deal, will be under contract through 2029 after signing his four-year extension. Higgins’ deal will run through 2028, while Burrow is also signed through the 2029 campaign.
Burrow had been publicly advocating for the franchise to find a way to extend his top two receivers.
There were questions about whether the Bengals would be able to sign Chase and Higgins to extensions. The franchise was unable to reach an agreement with Chase prior to the start of the 2024 season, while Higgins was franchise tagged in each of the last two offseasons. Higgins also requested a trade but was ultimately retained.
A fifth overall pick in 2021 by the Bengals, Chase quickly became one of the NFL’s top playmakers. He made the Pro Bowl in each of his first four seasons and is coming off a triple-crown season in 2024 in which he led the league in receptions (127), receiving yards (1,708), and touchdowns (17).
Higgins, who was picked in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft, has two 1,000-plus-yard seasons to his name. He played in 12 games last season, catching 73 passes for 911 yards and 10 scores.
Chase has 5,425 receiving yards and 46 touchdowns across four seasons, while Higgins has totalled 4,595 yards and 34 scores across five years.
The Bengals have missed the playoffs in two straight seasons but made the conference championship during the 2022 season and suffered a Super Bowl defeat to the Los Angeles Rams during Chase’s rookie year the season prior.
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