The Cincinnati Bengals began their turnaround from one of the NFL’s worst franchises to a top contender in 2020 when they drafted quarterback Joe Burrow and wide receiver Tee Higgins in the first two rounds.
A year later, the Bengals got Burrow another weapon by taking Ja’Marr Chase, and when you add Tyler Boyd to the mix, it’s given Cincinnati arguably the best receiving group in the NFL.
Burrow and Higgins are eligible for contract extensions. The former will get one soon and the latter won’t be far behind.
Chase isn’t eligible yet, but he made one thing when it came to playing with Burrow and Higgins long-term.
“I want those guys by my side for as long as I can,” Chase said.
Why wouldn’t he?
Chase has established himself as a true No.1 option in his first two seasons with 2,500 yards and 22 touchdowns. However, a big reason he can perform so well is the threat of Higgins which doesn’t allow defenses to shade coverage to Chase as often.
“I want those guys by my side for as long as I can.”
Ja’Marr Chase isn’t yet eligible for a contract extension, but he’s part of the #Bengals long-term calculus of trying to keep Burrow/Chase/Higgins together. pic.twitter.com/XdHgR2BJJY
— Joe Danneman (@FOX19Joe) May 16, 2023
In the 2021 playoffs when the Bengals made a run to the Super Bowl, Chase and Higgins both had multiple 100-yard games and had over 300 yards for the postseason. So, it’s clear how the threat of one helps the other.
Chase and Burrow are simply doing what they did at LSU. In 2019, they won a national championship with the Tigers, and both went bonkers in the title game. Burrow threw for 463 yards and five touchdowns, and Chase racked up 221 yards of it with two scores.
Now on the NFL level, Chase and Burrow have kept that same chemistry and bond which has catapulted both to being at the top of their position around the league.
The Bengals will do all they can to keep these three on their roster for years to come, there’s no doubt about that. If that’s the case, teams in the AFC have a problem on their hands for the foreseeable future.
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