Earlier this month, the Cincinnati Bengals used their franchise tag on wide receiver <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/tee-higgins-111113/">Tee Higgins</a> for the second consecutive season. Moreover, star wideout <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/jamarr-chase-50651/">Ja’Marr Chase</a>‘s contract ends after the 2025-26 season and he is due for a massive new deal. On Friday, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport provided an update on both players’ contract talks with the Bengals.



“The #Bengals have made significant progress on massive contract extensions with star WRs Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, and both could be finalized in the coming days,” <a href="https://x.com/RapSheet/status/1900637806122172560" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rapoport wrote</a>. “There is work to be done. But Joe Burrow’s wish is close to coming true.”



ESPN’s Adam Schefter seconded Rapoport’s report, <a href="https://x.com/AdamSchefter/status/1900637936904790464">writing</a> the Bengals are working to “get both wide receivers signed as soon as possible.” It won’t be a cheap endeavor for the organization.



Higgins played under a franchise tag of $21.8 million last season. He finished the year with 73 catches for 911 yards and 10 touchdowns, tied for the sixth-most in the NFL. He’s spent all five of his seasons in the NFL with the Bengals.



The Bengals had until March 12 to come to a long-term agreement with Higgins but had to use their franchise tag by March 4. At the <a href="https://www.on3.com/pro/category/nfl/news/">NFL</a> Scouting Combine on Feb. 25, Bengals director of player personnel Duke Tobin clarified he wants Higgins to remain a part of the organization.



“Tee Higgins is a fantastic football player, and I want him on my football team,” <a href="https://x.com/FOX19Jeremy/status/1894486070407962799" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tobin said</a>. “Whenever I’m in charge of a football team, I want Tee Higgins, and so I’m going to do what I can to get Tee Higgins. Our preference with Tee Higgins is to do a long-term agreement. Always has been, it continues to be, and we’ll work hard to get that done.



“We are fortunate. We’ve got a lot of really good football players, fantastic football players, and we’re fortunate to be in a position to where we can fit them all in. We’ve managed our cap well. We’ve got low dead money. We want a high payroll and low dead money, so the people that are in Cincinnati playing for us can get all the money. That’s what we want. And we’re in a position to re-sign these guys.”



Evidently, the Bengals might have a long-term deal with Higgins locked down soon. He isn’t the only one whose future in Cincinnati could be secured in the coming days. <a href="https://x.com/AdamSchefter/status/1894490287088513432" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter,</a> the Bengals plan on making Chase the highest-paid non-QB in the NFL to keep him with the organization.



“We’re going to reward Ja’Marr,” Tobin said.



Chase led the NFL in receiving yards (1,708), touchdowns (17) and receptions (127) last season. The Minnesota Vikings’ Justin Jefferson is currently the highest-paid wide receiver in the NFL, earning an average of $35 million a year. To keep Chase around for the foreseeable future, the Bengals will likely have to top this number.

Ja'Marr Chase Tee Higgins contract negotiations

5GOATs

Report: Bengals nearing resolution to Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins contract talks

team image

Pro News

NFL News

NFL Draft News

NASCAR

NBA News

NBA Draft News

Culture

Sports Betting

About

Football

Basketball

Women's Basketball

Softball

Baseball

Alabama

Arizona State

Arizona

Arkansas

Auburn

Baylor

Boston College

California

Removed

Clemson

Colorado

Duke

Florida

Florida State

Georgia

Georgia Tech

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Iowa State

Kansas

Kansas State

Kentucky

Lettermen Row

Lettermen Lounge

Louisville

Maryland

Miami

Michigan State

Michigan

Minnesota

Mississippi State

Missouri

NC State

Nebraska

North Carolina

Northwestern

Notre Dame

Ohio State

Oklahoma

Oklahoma State

Ole Miss

The Main Board

Oregon

Oregon State

Penn State

Pittsburgh

Purdue

Rutgers

South Carolina

Stanford

Syracuse

Tennessee

Texas A&M

Texas

Texas Tech

UCLA

Utah

Vanderbilt

Virginia

Virginia Tech

Wake Forest

Washington

Washington State

West Virginia

Wisconsin

BamaOnLine

BOL Round Table

Inside Texas

IT Members Only

DawgsHQ

Dawg Walk

Scoop Duck

Recruiting & Sports

AuburnSports

The Corner

WeAreSC

GarryP's Trojan Huddle

The Wolverine

The Fort

The Lions Den

The Wolfpacker

The Wolves’ Den

GatorsOnline

Swamp Talk

Alabama A&M

Alabama State

Albany

Alcorn State

Abilene Christian

Appalachian State

Akron

Army

Austin Peay

Arkansas-Pine Bluff

Arkansas-Little Rock

Arkansas State

Air Force

Ball State

American

Wofford

Winthrop

Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Wisconsin-Green Bay

Wichita State

Western Carolina

Volleyball

Gymnastics

Men's Lacrosse

Women's Lacrosse

Men's Soccer

Women's Soccer

Women's Track

Men's Golf

Women's Golf

Men's Hockey

Women's Hockey

Men's Swimming

Women's Swimming

Wrestling

Men's Tennis

Women's Tennis

Annual $1

Annual Premium

Annual $1 

Monthly

Annual

Unlimited Access to This and All Articles.

Article (On3 Plus Rivals)

Forum (On3 Plus Rivals)

Intro

Join

College scoop, experts, and community - all in one.

Winback

Way-Too-Early CFB prediction

2026 All-America Team

Final 2026 recruiting rankings

5-Star Countdown

Announce settlement agreement

Duke, Darian Mensah

Asks for Bediako judge recusal

NCAA files motion 

New update on eligibility

Charles Bediako