Cincinnati Bengals Lock in Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins with Major Contract Extensions

Since the beginning of the NFL off-season, Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow has been adamant about making sure the organization knew how badly he wanted his top two targets re-signed. Ja’Marr Chase getting paid his money was a foregone conclusion. He’s arguably a top-three receiver in the game today.

The most recent Triple Crown winner—leading the league in receptions, touchdowns, and receiving yards—Chase was at the top of every team’s dream list. But the other key target was Tee Higgins, one of the better young receivers in the league. Despite struggling with injuries, Higgins showed his productivity when available, racking up 911 receiving yards, 10 touchdowns, and 73 catches last season.

On Sunday night, the best wide receiver duo in the league announced they would be staying put in Cincy.

Chase re-signed for four years at $161 million, making him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history, according to NFL Network. Higgins, who would have been on a $24 million franchise tag this upcoming season, also re-signed for four years, worth up to $115 million.

It’s a huge win for wide receivers as the market continues to fluctuate. However, many fans are now wondering how Cincinnati will afford to build a reliable defense after investing so heavily in their offense. The Bengals may need to focus on drafting defensive talent or risk trying to simply outscore every opponent.

Regardless, Burrow’s favorite targets are here to stay, and now the focus shifts to how Cincinnati can balance its roster for a championship run.