Look: NFL General Manager Explains LONG-TERM Impact of Bengals' Contracts With Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins

The Bengals broke precedent and gave Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins guaranteed money beyond the first year in their new contracts.

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (1), quarterback Joe Burrow (9) and wide receiver Tee Higgins (5) take the field as captains for the coin toss before the first quarter of the NFL Week 18 game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh on Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025. / Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

CINCINNATI — The Cincinnati Bengals signed Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins to huge contract extensions this week.

Chase signed a four-year, $161 million deal that included $112 million guaranteed. The contract makes him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history ($40.25 million per season).

Higgins signed a four-year, $115 million contract that included guarantees in the second year of the contract.

The only three players that have gotten guarantees past the first year of their deal are Joe Burrow, Chase and Higgins.

One NFL general manager chimed in on the Bengals' decision to pay Chase and Higgins.

"As great as those two guys are, I never thought those deals would get done — certainly not at those numbers," the former NFL general manager told Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports. "It's not who the Bengals are; it goes against every fiber of their organizational DNA."

The general manager believes it's goin to help the Bengals long-term—especially with how Burrow views the franchise.

"The irony is, it helps them long term," he said. "You have a great quarterback, and you've now told him, ‘We believe in you so much, we're going to do something we've never done before.' That matters."

It's a very good point by the general manager. Pleasing Burrow and showing him they're "all-in" on winning should've been goal No. 1 this offseason.

"I think everybody was confident we'd get Ja'Marr done," Burrow told Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com. "But to be able to get Tee done along with that speaks volumes about ownership, Duke, Zac and their ability to get those things done.

"When you can re-sign guys like that and keep them around for an extended period of time, that gives you the best chance to go out and win Super Bowls and win a lot of games and win division championships. We got two of our best players re-signed. That's a big deal. Plus, Mike G. We're doing the right things."

That needs to continue of course. The Bengals have a gaping hole at guard. They could use two starting guards and some pass rush help—that includes Trey Hendrickson, who remains in limbo.

The Bengals have plenty of work to do, but signing Chase and Higgins were smart moves, even if the guaranteed money made them a bit uncomfortable.

Check out Schultz's entire report here.

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