Last weekend, the Cincinnati Bengals took a huge step forward with the re-signing of Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, their top two receivers. This is great news for all Bengals fans, as it was uncertain as to whether or not the front office would be bold enough to make these expensive contract extensions. Now though, with most of their top players returning, they have a chance to make a deep postseason run next season.
In a pivotal offseason opportunity, the Bengals went all-in and spent over $250 million to hold on to Chase and Higgins. This decision not only solidifies their offensive core with Joe Burrow but also deviates from their usually conservative spending on their players.
“I think we need to work more on our defense, especially our secondary because we struggled there immensely last season,” Jackson Brown (11) said.
“Ja’Marr Chase is one of the top receivers in the league, so it’s definitely essential for us to get him. Tee Higgins is another great receiver and it’s a luxury to have two good pass-catchers, as at least one of them is usually open with the other team’s best cornerback guarding only one of them,” head coach of the football team Bob Sphire said.
With the two receivers locked, the Bengals’ offense is looking to continue to be one of the best in the league. However, there’s definitely still some work to be done on the defense, which is where most of their problems stemmed from the previous season.
“It’s obviously a massive decision, because there are other players that also need contract renewals, but you have to keep your best players for sure,” Sphire said.
Even though it is a big spend, it was definitely worth it, as they’ve restored hopes of a Super Bowl for Bengals fans everywhere for the next four years. Their decision to extend the pair shows that they are playing for the long-term, and not just saving money.
“I think we could win a Super Bowl next year. If we can fix our problems on defense and do what we do best on offense, we have a real chance,” Brown said.
Looking ahead at the next few years, the future seems bright in Cincinnati. With Chase and Higgins returning, the Bengals are in a prime position to go for the AFC title, and hopefully, win a Super Bowl.
“I think not retaining those guys would’ve made a lot of people mad, and it’s good for the offense but I think we also need to start protecting the quarterback and stopping the other team from putting up points,” Sphire said.
