Cincinnati Bengals DVOA, Stats, & NFL Rankings

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.

The Cincinnati Bengals announced on Tuesday that they signed free-agent wide receiver Mitchell Tinsley to a Reserve/Futures deal. Tinsley will not count on the team's active list until after the Super Bowl on Monday, Feb. 10. The 25-year-old went undrafted out of college in 2023 but eventually latched on with the Washington Commanders. He was active for two games with the Commanders in 2023 but wasn't targeted at all. Tinsley spent all of the 2024 campaign on the team's practice squad. He will now head to the AFC and continue his development with the Bengals all offseason up through training camp. If Tinsley sticks around beyond camp, he'll likely open the regular season this fall on Cincy's practice squad. Tinsley played collegiately at Hutchinson Community College, Western Kentucky and Penn State.

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler writes that team personnel that he spoke with think Cincinnati Bengals impending free-agent wide receiver Tee Higgins' market is $30 million per year, with most of them thinking he'll hit or clear the over on that mark. The lowest estimate is somewhere slightly above DeVonta Smith's three-year, $75 million deal. Higgins should do very well for himself in free agency because of his status as a No.1-caliber wideout and the fact that plenty of NFL teams are desperate for pass-catching help this offseason. If the Bengals wanted to, they could put the franchise tag on Higgins for less than $30 million in 2025, but the expectation is that they'll either sign him to an extension or let him walk. The 26-year-old has played in only 12 regular-season games in each of the last two years due to injuries, but when healthy, he's been productive. Higgins had a career-high 10 TDs and 911 receiving yards in 2024.

On Friday, Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase told ESPN's Laura Rutledge that he's hoping to get "what's fair" regarding his new contract. "Hopefully, I don't put too much pressure on anybody, but I just want it to be fair, that's all." As for what's "fair" from the 24-year-old's point of view: "I can't really say everything I want to say. It's what I deserve." Chase is coming off his best season as a pro, and it couldn't come at a better time for his looming contract. The superstar wideout became just the sixth pass-catcher in the Super Bowl era to lead the league in receptions, receiving yards, and touchdowns -- effectively taking home the Triple Crown. It appears he's insinuating he wants to match or exceed his former LSU teammate Justin Jefferson's contract value, which would make him the highest-paid non-QB in the league. Hopefully, the negotiations don't linger into the summer, as it's the only outcome that could prevent Chase from being a highly-selected fantasy asset in 2025.

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Jermaine Burton was selected with the No. 80 overall pick (third round) in the 2024 NFL Draft after a strong final season at Alabama. However, the 23-year-old played sparingly in his rookie season and caught just four passes for 107 yards on 14 targets in 14 games. At the Senior Bowl this year, Bengals director of player personnel spoke on Burton's status with the organization. "He's done nothing, and he's going to have to start doing something quickly. We knew we were taking a risk. We felt comfortable that we could help him through some of the challenges he's had in the past, and we're going to continue to try to help him," Tobin said. "But this is professional football, and you have to take accountability, and you have to be accountable to your teammates, your coaches, and the team that you're playing for, and he has to figure that out." Burton notably did not travel with the team for a must-win game against the Pittsburgh Steelers late in the 2024 campaign and seems to be falling out of favor with the coaching staff and front office quickly. The speedster could be at risk of being released or traded before the next regular season.