Chase and Higgins signed by Bengals

[bileever]

Ja'Marr Chase signed for $161 million for 4 years ($40.25 million per year, $115 million guaranteed), making him the highest paid non-QB in NFL history. Tee Higgins for $115 million for 4 years ($28.75 million per year).

They are two excellent receivers, but is it wise to pay WRs that kind of money? As good as Chase is, I don't know if it makes sense to pay a wide receiver that much money. The Bengals have so many issues on their defense.

Between the two of them plus Joe Burrow ($55 million per year), the Bengals have $124 million committed to 3 players. That's 44 percent of their entire cap. I don't think that's sustainable. Btw, the Bengals had the 30th ranked offensive line in the NFL last year, just one spot ahead of the Seahawks. Perhaps some of that money should have been put into their line.

 

[Fernie Hawks Fan]

That's crazy.

 

[James in PA]

That's why the Bengals are the Bengals. Too much $ wrapped up in the WR position.

 

[SoulfishHawk]

Two damn good receivers, and Chase is phenomenal. But those two contracts are ridiculous. You can only kick the can down the road so many times. I suspect in 2 or 3 years; they are going to be in cap hell. WAY too much to pay two WR's, imo.

 

[Rat]

Not paying Chase wasn't an option. If the Bengals let him go, there'd be at least 20 other teams happy to pay him.

That's a lot for Higgins, but they have to do what they have to do to keep Burrow happy. They're only going as far as he takes them.

This won't stop the Bengals from upgrading in other places. They've invested picks and money into other places, they've just executed it poorly. And teams can always open up cap room if they really need it. The Chiefs just opened up $49m last week by restructuring two players.

 

[Appyhawk]

Russ refused to restructure for Denver and walked away with a fortune.
I kind of equate this as an example of why always taking BPA over biggest need is a flawed drafting theory.

 

[Jac]

Not paying Chase wasn't an option. If the Bengals let him go, there'd be at least 20 other teams happy to pay him.

That's a lot for Higgins, but they have to do what they have to do to keep Burrow happy. They're only going as far as he takes them.

This won't stop the Bengals from upgrading in other places. They've invested picks and money into other places, they've just executed it poorly. And teams can always open up cap room if they really need it. The Chiefs just opened up $49m last week by restructuring two players.

I don't know. I think the Bengals should have told Burrow we're going to keep you happy by signing Chase and getting you another receiver early in the draft. This isn't good roster/cap construction.

 

[Rat]

Burrow specifically wanted Higgins back, and they conspired to hold the team hostage. Higgins switched to the same agent as Chase, and the agent told the team Chase wasn't signing a deal without Higgins.

 

[bileever]

Not paying Chase wasn't an option. If the Bengals let him go, there'd be at least 20 other teams happy to pay him.

That's a lot for Higgins, but they have to do what they have to do to keep Burrow happy. They're only going as far as he takes them.

This won't stop the Bengals from upgrading in other places. They've invested picks and money into other places, they've just executed it poorly. And teams can always open up cap room if they really need it. The Chiefs just opened up $49m last week by restructuring two players.

I agree they had to pay Chase, but they might have gotten him for cheaper if they signed him earlier. As much as Burrow wanted Higgins, everyone understands that you can't pay everyone. I think not adding another huge WR contract to the payroll would have been the way to go.

Because the Bengals had a relatively good year last year, it's easy for them to fool themselves into thinking they're not that far off, but in fact, they have even more needs this year than they did last year.

Yes, you can play around with the salary cap, but eventually it catches up to you.

 

[Madrid Hawk]

Liked for OP's proper use of "should have".

 

[bileever]

Liked for OP's proper use of "should have".

Lol, you mean instead of "should of"?

 

[Bobblehead]

40 million for what 10 hours of work?

 

[toffee]

Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins are not SeaHawks material, they are simply put, not Schneider men. Marquez Valdes-Scantling, and Cody White, both have the word Schneider painted on their foreheads.

 

[toffee]

Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins are not SeaHawks material, they are simply put, not Schneider men.

 

[Scout]

A lot of NFL teams have increased the value and importance of WRs due the rule changes. Traditionally QB, OT, CB and Edge rushers were considered the premium positions. But now WR has entered the conversation.

That is why losing Metcalf and Lockett in one off season is brutal and a big gamble by the team. Worse, is that you have no one that is truly an anchor on offense signed long term. The defense has long term anchors signed on every level of the defense. Why does this matter? Continuity and also the changing of OCs year to year hurts the young players on offense with their current rookie deals.

 

[CouchLogic]

Lol...at least they'll sell tickets. That's almost as good as winning.

 

[Shane Falco]

That IS crazy. We'll see how it works out for them. They haven't even made the playoffs the last 2 seasons. I mean they have Joe Burrow and we won more games then they did last season with our dysfunctional team.

 

[Scout]

The NFL is a team game which is a complete roster is more important than anything else. But the Bengals really, really need to shore up the defensive trenches or else they will miss the playoff again.

In a division with the Browns, Steelers and Ravens you can't have a defensive front so weak when smashmouth football is a cornerstone of that division.

 

[SonicHawk]

I give Burrow whatever the hell he asks for. Best QB in the league.

 

[bileever]

A lot of NFL teams have increased the value and importance of WRs due the rule changes. Traditionally QB, OT, CB and Edge rushers were considered the premium positions. But now WR has entered the conversation.

That is why losing Metcalf and Lockett in one off season is brutal and a big gamble by the team. Worse, is that you have no one that is truly an anchor on offense signed long term. The defense has long term anchors signed on every level of the defense. Why does this matter? Continuity and also the changing of OCs year to year hurts the young players on offense with their current rookie deals.

Obviously, many NFL teams agree with you about the value of wide receivers. However, many teams have started to rethink whether paying receivers $30 million or more is a good idea.

Paying one player who might touch the ball 8 times in a game more than a tenth of the salary cap doesn't make a whole lot of sense. Maybe Jerry Rice in his prime or Tyreek Hill a few years ago were worth that much. Or maybe Ja'Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson. But does anyone think that AJ Brown, Brandon Aiyuk or Jaylen Waddle are worth $30 million a year? And what about DJ Moore, DeVonta Smith or DK?

Here's one article on the value of wide receivers: https://theanalyst.com/na/2024/09/are-the-highest-paid-wide-receivers-worth-it

We'll have to see which approach works better, the Bengals choosing to pay two WRs, or the Seahawks opting not to do so.