The Cincinnati Bengals are hoping to make a run at another Super Bowl with Joe Burrow fully healthy heading into 2024, but two of their biggest star players are beyond frustrated just one day before the NFL Draft.
Earlier on Wednesday, the Bengals made a key move toward their future by locking down the 5th-year option for wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase, keeping him under contract through 2025 and giving the organization some time before inking him to a long-term extension.
A three-time Pro Bowler, the 21-year-old Chase will see his salary jump in 2025 from $1.1 million this coming season to a fully guaranteed $21.8 million, barring an extension being worked out.
Chase, a fourth-year player in 2024, has played and started 45 regular-season games for Cincinnati. He has caught 268 passes for 3717 yards and 29 TDs, and has led the team in each category in each of the past three seasons. He was named the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year following the 2021 season, and has been selected to the Pro Bowl three times.
Chase last season totaled a career-high 100 receptions, tying for the second most in a season in Cincinnati Bengals history, for 1216 yards and seven TDs. He is one of eight players in NFL history to reach the 1000-yard receiving mark in each of his first three career seasons.
Chase also has played and started seven postseason games for the Bengals, and is the team’s postseason career leader in receptions (45) and receiving yards (588).
As for a future extension for Chase, he has said that he wants to wait and see what former LSU teammate Justin Jefferson gets from the Vikings before he signs his own deal.
Cincinnati Bengals Star Trey Hendrickson Threatens Retirement If He Doesn’t Get Contract Extension Or Traded
With Chase now taken care of in the short-term, it felt like now would be a prime opportunity for the organization to focus on Tee Higgins, who the Bengals used their franchise tag on.
Higgins was one of nine NFL players to receive a franchise tag in February. The two sides have been unable to come to an agreement on an extension, which had led to speculation that a trade is on the horizon.
Higgins said earlier this month that he anticipates being back with the Cincinnati Bengals next season, but on Wednesday, he publicly requested a trade along with star defensive end Trey Hendrickson.
Hendrickson is due to make roughly $15 million in 2024 and is under team control through 2025. However, the Bengals have reportedly told the defensive end they have no intention of moving him and have shown zero willingness to move Higgins either despite reportedly not engaging in extension talks with the wide receiver for over a year.
Thus, Hendrickson is looking to force Cincy’s hand for more security, either through a new deal or a trip to a new team.
If the Bengals were to trade him before June 1, it would cause $7.8 million in dead money with $12.3 million in cap savings. A post-June 1 trade would mean a dead-money hit of $5.2 million but cap savings of $15 million, per Over the Cap.
Hendrickson broke out in a major way upon joining Cincinnati in 2021 after spending the first four years of his NFL career with the New Orleans Saints. He has made the Pro Bowl in each of the three seasons as a Bengal, recording 109 total tackles and 39.5 sacks over that span. Both Hendrickson and Higgins helped the Cincinnati Bengals make a surprise run to the Super Bowl in 2021.
While it’s unlikely Hendrickson truly retires in the prime of his career, it’s clear he isn’t happy with his current contract situation. This is certainly a situation to keep an eye on during NFL Draft weekend.
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