Cincinnati Bengals DVOA, Stats, & NFL Rankings

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase is due for a contract extension after leading the NFL in receptions (127), receiving yards (1,708), and receiving touchdowns (17) in 2024. The former first-round pick out of LSU could command an average salary of $40 million, according to NFL insider Jordan Schultz. This would make Chase the highest-paid wideout in NFL history and $5 million ahead of former college teammate Justin Jefferson. Chase is off to one of the best starts for a wide receiver in NFL history, and the Bengals hope to lock him up long-term this offseason along with fellow wideout Tee Higgins.

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins is expected to be franchise-tagged, according to James Rapien of SI.com. The team used the tag on him last offseason and is planning to do so again between February 18 and March 4 during the tag window. However, the organization is hoping to sign Higgins to a long-term extension this time around. The 26-year-old has hauled in 330 passes for 4,595 yards and 34 touchdowns in 70 games since being selected in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft. Higgins caught a career-high 10 touchdowns in 2024. Surely, many franchises were hoping Higgins would hit the open market, but it appears the Bengals are doing everything they can to keep the former Clemson star in Cincinnati for the short and long-term future.

ESPN's Adam Schefter writes that the Cincinnati Bengals could work to re-sign impending free-agent wide receiver Tee Higgins before he officially becomes a free agent or put the $26 million franchise tag on him, which is lower than what he'd likely receive on the open market. The Bengals could also choose to tag and trade Higgins, but that option would require carrying their cap space past the new league year. Complicating matters is the fact that fellow wideout Ja'Marr Chase is entering the final year of his contract and will be looking to become the highest-paid receiver in NFL history in a deal that could average close to $40 million per year. Cincy has around $46 million in salary cap space, but it remains to be seen if they can pull off retaining both Higgins and Chase. Higgins has 34 touchdowns and two 1,000-yard seasons in five NFL seasons but could become a legitimate WR1 in 2025 if he leaves the Bengals.

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow has been named the NFL Comeback Player of the Year. This is a well deserved win for Burrow who put together a tremendous 2024 campaign. The 28-year-old threw for 4,918 passing yards with 43 touchdowns and nine interceptions. Burrow was limited to 10 games in 2023, but came back and played like one of the best quarterbacks in the league. Sadly, the Bengals struggled as a team and missed the postseason, but they will look to rebound with Burrow as their leader in 2025.

Speaking on Breakfast Ball, Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow said he believes in the organization and that the Bengals have the salary cap space to retain core players like receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins (impending free agent), defensive end Trey Hendrickson and tight end Mike Gesicki (impending free agent). Burrow added that he's motivated to keep the core of the team together and that he'd be willing to restructure his contract in order to make that happen. Although the Bengals couldn't overcome a dreadful start in 2024 to make the postseason, Burrow led the NFL in pass attempts (652), completions (460), passing yards (4,918), touchdown passes (43) and passing yards per game (289.3) in 17 games. Even without the elite rushing ability of QBs like Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen, Burrow finished as the QB2 in overall fantasy points and will be a top-five QB in drafts this fall.