Cincinnati Bengals receivers Tee Higgins (left) and Ja’marr Chase take the stage during a press conference to announce the signing of new contracts for the pair at Paycor Stadium in downtown Cincinnati on Tuesday, March 18, 2025. Chase becomes the new highest-paid non-quarterback player in the NFL. Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

CBS Sports Ranks Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins Behind One WR Duo Following George Pickens Trade

Originally posted on Cincinnati Bengals on SI
By Russell Heltman | Last updated May 8, 2025 10:44 AM ET

CBS Sports writer Cody Benjamin dove into the top NFL wide receiver duos following George Pickens' trade to Dallas. He had the Bengals' combination of Tee Higgins and Ja'Marr Chase behind A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith from Philadelphia.

"Higgins has been hit or miss with extended injuries, but when he's on the field, he maximizes his size as a contested-catch outlet for Joe Burrow," Benjamin wrote. "In truth, however, this is all about Chase: He's an absolute home run waiting to happen, with a burst capable of launching him past an entire defense on any given play."

Health was seemingly a deciding factor between the two top options.

"They may have taken a bit of a backseat to the Eagles' awe-inspiring ground game en route to Super Bowl LIX victory, but no matter: Brown is a prototypical alpha with an imposing blend of both size, strength, and downfield acceleration," Benjamin wrote. "Meanwhile, Smith is just as, if not more, tenacious despite his slender build, thriving in critical spots. Together, they're the total package physically, but best of all, they show up when it matters."

It's an interesting debate when factoring in the health issues from Tee Higgins. He has missed 14 games in his career due to injury, while Smith has missed five since coming into the league in 2021.