The Cincinnati Bengals have been criticized for years for being the one of the few NFL teams without a true indoor practice facility—viewed by some fans as a symbol of ownership’s frugality. The organization is also a basement dweller in the annual NFLPA report cards that grade team amenities.
But Cincinnati signed Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins to record-breaking contract extensions over the weekend, ensuring the happiness of franchise quarterback Joe Burrow while showing they are attractive enough of a destination to keep their top talents.
The Bengals, which now have a makeshift indoor facility near Paycor Stadium, are looking to find a permanent one as they remain in talks with Hamilton County officials to make that a reality. They envision seeing their star-studded WR duo running routes there one day instead of in their current bubble setup.
Chase inked a four-year, $161 million deal (including $112 million guaranteed)—making him the highest paid non-QB in NFL history with a contract that betters defensive end Myles Garrett’s recent $160 million extension with the Cleveland Browns. Higgins, meanwhile, is receiving a four-year, $115 million deal that places him at the top of wide receiver earners for a team’s No. 2 option.
Many analysts and fans were surprised that the Bengals would dole out that level of cash given owner Mike Brown’s reputation for being cheap. But the NFL’s salary cap and floor mean all owners operate within a set bracket when it comes to roster spending. The Chase and Higgins deals, though, will likely put Cincinnati in the top 10 of total cap allocation in 2025 after ranking third last year.
Before 2024, Cincinnati had not ranked in the top five of total cap allocation since 2016. Unlike Major League Baseball, which doesn’t enforce a salary floor, the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement calls for all teams to spend 89% of the available cap per year and 95% on average over a four-year period.
“The [Bengals] have received that wrap because of past issues but you can’t fairly say that from a contemporary player spending standpoint,” former Bengals offensive lineman and ex-NFLPA president Eric Winston said in a phone interview. “They have to spend it; they don’t have a choice. One could dive into a lot of issues where an owner should spend money yet doesn’t have to, but player spending isn’t one of them.”
The Chase and Higgins signings nonetheless exemplify the power of Burrow, who remained adamant this offseason about not only retaining his former LSU teammate Chase but also Higgins, who received the franchise tag for the second straight year earlier this month.
“I think it was a big plus to see Joe speak out publicly about him wanting his guys,” former Bengals right tackle Trent Brown said in a phone interview. “It could probably happen more if more quarterbacks spoke up for their guys. It’s all positives about the whole situation … If you don’t have those three pieces, they’re not as talked about and they’re definitely not making that Super Bowl appearance a few years ago.”
The Bengals, who are the lowest-valued team in the NFL per Sportico’s valuations, indeed came close to their first Super Bowl triumph in 2022 when they reached Super Bowl 56 before narrowly falling to the Los Angeles Rams. Former star Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer, who never won a playoff game in his seven seasons in Cincy, was previously critical of Brown, who assumed ownership in 1991, and his lack of spending to build a championship contender. Palmer even speculated if Burrow would remain with the club prior to that Super Bowl appearance versus the Rams.
Palmer said on an NBC podcast: “I think Joe’s gonna sit back after this game, win or lose and be like, ‘Man, am I gonna re-sign with this team? Are they willing to do what it takes to continuously build to get back to the next Super Bowl?”
The Bengals, who did not respond to a request for comment for this story, have not only re-signed Burrow but have also re-signed his two favorite targets.
It remains to be seen if the franchise will also manage to retain standout defensive end Trey Hendrickson, who is eligible to become a free agent next year. The team regardless is following a recent trend of teams paying top dollar to retain core offensive pieces; the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles have extended quarterback Jalen Hurts, wide receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, and star running back Saquon Barkley.
“It’s not lost on me that you can make a change,” former Bengals linebacker Dhani Jones said in a phone interview regarding team philosophy. “By doing that, you evaluate the potential outcome. I hope everyone rallies around them and applauds their desire to approach retention differently.”
The Bengals’ front office reputation of not paying market value isn’t entirely fair anymore, especially of late given the team has been in the top 20 of salary cash totals since 2023. They’ve arguably overspent at times, as they likely could’ve saved money if star players like Chase and Higgins received extension deals last year; instead the duo got into separate labor disputes at various points over the last two seasons.
The lack of spending might be a fairer criticism historically in other areas, namely facilities, but the franchise responded to the chatter by spending $40 million last year on upgrades that included renovating the locker room and training room. The detailed locker room helped the team earn an A+ grade in that category on the latest NFLPA report.
The team still received an F grade for treatment of families and food/dining areas on the same report card. Overall, the Bengals finished 24th out of 32 teams this year—a slight increase from 26th in 2024.
Despite some investments lacking in other areas off the field, the Bengals’ extension deals over the weekend send a clear message to the fan base that they’re looking to remain competitive and get back to the Super Bowl after nearly making history three years ago.
“They knocked it out of the park,” Brown added. “This one has more sentimental value … For those guys to be able to be kept together, that’s good for Cincinnati and that’s good for football.”