Quarterback Joe Burrow has made it clear that he wants the Cincinnati Bengals to invest heavily in retaining their star players as the team gears up for an ambitious offseason. The Bengals aim to secure long-term deals for wide receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, as well as defensive end Trey Hendrickson. This strategy underscores the team's commitment to building a championship roster.
Tee Higgins, one of the key players, is set to enter free agency on March 12. To retain him, the Bengals might use the franchise tag if they fail to reach a long-term agreement by the March 4 deadline. Employing the nonexclusive tag would allow both sides until July 15 to negotiate further. Should negotiations stall, Higgins would play under a $26.17 million salary for 2025, following a $21.8 million franchise tag in 2024. A second tag would mean a 20% pay increase from his previous salary.
Wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase is coming off an impressive season, leading the league in receiving yards, touchdowns, and receptions. Chase is expected to pursue becoming the highest-paid wide receiver in the NFL, adding another challenge for the Bengals' front office. Meanwhile, defensive end Trey Hendrickson has consistently proven his worth with back-to-back seasons recording 17.5 sacks, topping the league in 2024. The market for elite pass rushers sits above $30 million annually, making Hendrickson's retention a costly affair.
Joe Burrow has shown willingness to facilitate these deals by restructuring his own contract. His suggestion involves converting some of his salary into a signing bonus to reduce the cap hit.
"You could convert some of the money to a signing bonus, which will lower the cap hit," – Joe Burrow
He further elaborates on how adjustments could give the Bengals flexibility in their financial planning.
"You can push some of the money to the back end of the contract. That lowers the cap hit. And then when you get to the back end of the contract, you can restructure it and convert it to a signing bonus. You can also just take less money." – Joe Burrow
Leave a Reply