The Cincinnati Bengals haven’t traditionally had a reputation for being a franchise that’s willing to spend big money on superstar players. But that’s changed in recent years, especially after their inking QB Joe Burrow to a five-year, $275 million contract extension in 2023.
They continued that trend of rewarding their own this offseason by resetting the wide receiver market for Ja’Marr Chase, who signed a four-year, $161 million deal in March.
And it was that contract extension that The Athletic’s Mike Sando dubbed as the Bengals’ best 2025 offseason move.
“Re-signing superstar receiver Ja’Marr Chase had to be done, but there were no guarantees the negotiations would play out smoothly for the Bengals,” Sando wrote. “Cincy took the receiver market from $35 million per year (Justin Jefferson) to $40.25 million (Chase), keeping quarterback Joe Burrow and Chase himself happy. That was important.”
I still watch highlights and can’t believe Ja’Marr Chase plays for my favorite team. pic.twitter.com/6oTFWq4Ej8
— Patrick Carey (@PatCareySports) May 22, 2025
There was a very real fear that the Bengals would end up in a situation with Chase similar to what they’re dealing with now with Trey Hendrickson, but the direct correlation between Burrow’s success and Chase remaining in a Bengals uniform made this contract extension too big to fail.
Chase has been an absolute force since entering the NFL as a first-round pick in 2021. He’s had over 1,000 receiving yards in each of his first four seasons in the league, including a career-high 1,708 yards and 17 touchdowns in 2024.
If Chase became disgruntled and demanded a trade, the ripple effect on Burrow and the entire offense would’ve been extreme.
That won’t be the case now that Burrow and Chase are locked up for the next several years together, and the third member of Cincinnati’s triplets, Tee Higgins, is a happy (and wealthy) guy, too. He signed a four-year, $115 million contract in March, ensuring that one of the NFL’s most explosive passing attacks remain in place for the foreseeable future.
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