Bengals Reveal Offensive Identity Through Massive Extensions

Higgins’ deal – four years and $115 million with two guaranteed seasons – locks him in as Chase’s partner in crime, allows him to cash in and continue to benefit from Chase’s prowess.

It may have cost an uncomfortable amount, and it may come with real consequences for other parts of the roster down the road. But the Bengals doubled down on their identity with these two massive extensions, and for that, they deserve praise.

Cincinnati knows it has a Super Bowl-caliber quarterback in Joe Burrow, and it has finally acted with the gumption necessary to lock in his supporting cast. Positional value and an influx of young talent is nice, but replacing Higgins with a rookie receiver or a cheaper veteran would have had a negative impact on the passing offense and the team’s success.

Elite sides of the ball are built on elite units, and with Burrow, Chase, and Higgins, no team can claim to have more talent between their quarterback and his top two targets. That matters, especially when – in all likelihood – next year’s defense is going to struggle. In an extreme left-tailed outcome from the Bengals’ defense in 2024, that trio dragged Cincinnati to the brink of playoff contention.

Between regression, a strong rookie class, and signings in free agency, that side of the ball will almost certainly improve. That alone might be more than enough to push the Bengals back into meaningful mid-January football, and from there, it’s mostly about getting hot.

The Cincinnati faithful have seen Burrow go on unholy runs of utter dominance with Chase and Higgins on the boundary. Keeping those pillars in place on the perimeter means Burrow is optimized, afforded the weapons necessary to play to his potential.

The Bengals are building around Burrow, playing to his strengths and maximizing them instead of tasking him with compensating for Higgins’ absence. With edge rusher Trey Hendrickson hanging in the balance, it will come with risks, but Cincinnati should be praised for its dedication to the passing game – even if it took too long to pull the trigger.