The Bengals have dug themselves quite the hole with star talent contracts.
The Cincinnati Bengals may have their hands more full than ever this offseason with the amount of money they rightfully owe their star players.
Tee Higgins is long overdue for a contract extension, Ja’Marr Chase is set to become the highest-paid non-QB (according to Duke Tobin), and Trey Hendrickson is now able to seek a trade because of his asking price.
The Bengals were close to a deal last offseason with Chase but couldn’t get past the finish line. With that, the Bengals now owe him more money because of his triple-crown performance in 2024.
Former NFL great JJ Watt sounded off about the Bengals’ issues and made it pretty clear what the glowing problem is…outside of opening their checkbook.
“Reward your players earlier and reap the benefits in the long run,” Watt posted via Twitter. “Dragging it out not only ends up costing more, it creates unnecessary tension. The longer you wait, the higher the price.”
Reward your players earlier and reap the benefits in the long run.
Dragging it out not only ends up costing more, it creates unnecessary tension.
The longer you wait, the higher the price. https://t.co/EX72OYWEh5
— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) March 9, 2025
Watt nailed the biggest problem in Cincinnati perfectly.
If the Bengals had gotten deals done earlier and had not dragged their feet with guys like Higgins and Chase, they likely would not be in the current situation.
Let’s hope it doesn’t cost them even one of Chase or Higgins.
