Has there ever been a time in contract history when two stars who play the same position on the same team get paid at the same time? The Bengals announced recently that Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, both indispensable pieces of wide receiver offensive firepower, had reached contract deals.
Higgins is the surprise here. Considering how every sports outlet assumed that Tee Higgins would end up a cap casualty and either be franchised/traded or let walk, seeing him actually sign was probably a massive delight to Bengals fans. Higgins is overshadowed by Chase, who has a legitimate argument for best WR in the NFL, but Higgins is no slouch and would instantly be the #1 wideout on most other teams. That was the main reason everyone expected him to leave. Higgins absolutely could have gotten a better deal elseware and been the focal point of the offense. But I think Chase and Burrow made a very strong push to keep him because they are better together. You can’t double both of them. Higgins benefits immensely from having Chase across from him. This is one of the best WR duos in history. Holt/Bruce, Carter/Moss, Julio/Roddy, Harrison/Wayne, this combo of Higgins/Chase is our current generation’s version of that power. It’s wonderful to watch and we get to keep watching it for a few more years. The Bengals offense was a thing of beauty last year. Mike Geisicki is pretty good, and Andrei Iosivas started making plays last year too. Outside Philadelphia or Baltimore, there might not be a scarier offense in the league to go up against.
Of course, the problem is the Bengals are not as well-rounded as the Eagles, Ravens, Bills, or basically anybody else. The defense exists, or should I say, doesn’t. Last year Joe Burrow could have legitimately been the MVP had the Bengals been able to stop fucking anything. The Bengals held two teams under 10 points last year, the imploding New York Giants and the DTR-led Browns. Most Bengals games ended something like 35-32. They were in the bottom 10 teams in the league of basically every defensive passing stat except yards per play. They were slightly better against the rush, but still below league average. There was a stark divide between the two sides. It’s not like the Bengals defense is devoid of talent, either. They just fuckin sucked ass last year. I’m unsure how the defense will look in 2025 with new defensive coordinator Al Golden, but I sure as hope they are better. The Burrow-era Bengals are fun as shit and one of my favorite teams to watch these days, so I hope they put it together and get back to the playoffs. Replace the Steelers. We don’t need more Steelers in the playoffs getting unceremoniously dumped in the wildcard every year. Put a fun team back in.
