The Cincinnati Bengals are hoping to make a run at another Super Bowl with Joe Burrow fully healthy in 2024, but two of their most important players are extremely frustrated just one day before the NFL Draft.
Earlier on Wednesday, the Bengals made a significant move toward the future by locking down wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase’s fifth-year option, keeping him under contract until 2025 and allowing the franchise some time before signing him to a long-term agreement.
The 21-year-old Chase, a three-time Pro Bowler, will see his compensation increase in 2025 from $1.1 million this season to a fully guaranteed $21.8 million, assuming no deal is reached.
The Bengals had until May 2 to use their fifth-year option.
Chase, a fourth-year player in 2024, has appeared and started 45 regular-season games for Cincinnati. He has 268 receptions for 3717 yards and 29 touchdowns, leading the team in each category for the past three seasons. He was voted the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year following the 2021 season and has made three Pro Bowl appearances.
Chase had a career-high 100 receptions last season, tied for the second most in a single season in Cincinnati Bengals history, for 1216 yards and seven touchdowns. He is one of only eight players in NFL history to exceed 1000 yards receiving in each of his first three seasons.
Chase has also played and started seven postseason games with the Bengals, and he leads the franchise in postseason receptions (45) and receiving yards (588).
Chase has stated that he wants to wait and see what his old LSU teammate Justin Jefferson earns from the Vikings before signing his own contract.
With Chase taken care of in the short term, it appeared that the organization could now focus on Tee Higgins, on whom the Bengals had applied their franchise tag.
Higgins was one of nine NFL players assigned a franchise tag in February. The two sides have been unable to reach an agreement on an extension, fueling rumors that a deal is imminent.
Higgins stated earlier this month that he expects to be back with the Cincinnati Bengals next season, but on Wednesday, he publicly demanded a trade alongside standout defensive end Trey Hendrickson.
Hendrickson is set to earn approximately $15 million in 2024 and is under team control until 2025. However, the Bengals have reportedly assured the defensive end that they have no intention of transferring him, and they have also showed no interest to move Higgins, despite having not engaged in extension talks with the wide receiver for over a year.
Thus, Hendrickson intends to force Cincy’s hand in exchange for better security, either through a new contract or a move to a new team.
If the Bengals traded him before June 1, it would result in $7.8 million in dead money and a $12.3 million cap savings. According to Over the Cap, a post-June 1 transaction would result in a $5.2 million dead-money hit and a $15 million cap savings.
While the Bengals are likely to hold Higgins under the franchise tag and refuse to complete his trade request, the Hendrickson scenario has taken a wild turn.
The Cincinnati Bengals’ premier pass rusher has threatened to retire if he is not given a new deal or traded, according to several sources.
After spending the first four years of his NFL career with the New Orleans Saints, Hendrickson burst onto the scene when he joined the Cincinnati Bengals in 2021. He has made the Pro Bowl in all three seasons as a Bengal, totaling 109 tackles and 39.5 sacks. Hendrickson and Higgins both contributed to the Cincinnati Bengals’ surprising Super Bowl run in 2021.
While Hendrickson is unlikely to retire in his prime, he is clearly unhappy with his present contract position. This is definitely something to keep an eye on throughout NFL Draft weekend.
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