Former Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce had plenty to say about the Cincinnati Bengals' recent contract extensions for star receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins during the latest episode of the "New Heights" podcast.
The Bengals recently made headlines by signing Chase to a four-year, $161 million deal with $112 million guaranteed, making him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history. They also extended Higgins with a four-year, $115 million contract, with the first two years guaranteed.
During the podcast discussion with his brother Travis, Jason expressed surprise that Cincinnati managed to retain both receivers, saying, "Good for the Bengals. I did not think they were going to be able to keep both of these guys. They're paying a hefty price tag to do it."
The conversation took an interesting turn when Travis pointed out that between quarterback Joe Burrow ($55 million per year), Chase (over $40 million per year), and Higgins (nearly $30 million per year), the Bengals are committing more than $125 million annually to just three offensive players.
Related: Brandon Graham Leaves Indelible Eagles' Legacy
This prompted Jason to launch into a passionate rant about NFL salary cap management and the complex financial gymnastics teams must perform to sign players to such massive contracts. The former Eagles center questioned how teams like Cincinnati can afford to allocate such significant resources to just a few star players while still fielding a competitive team.
The Kelce brothers also discussed whether the Eagles might face a similar situation with their own star receivers, A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, who both have two years remaining on their current contracts.
Related: New Eagles' Edge Rusher Ready To Save Career
Copyright 2025 Athlon Sports. All rights reserved.
This story was originally published March 22, 2025 at 9:25 AM.