[ad_1]
With the Bengals’ (8-8) season finale just a couple of days away, WR Ja’Marr Chase has begun peeking into 2024 with the team’s 2023 playoff hopes gone. It’s safe to say he isn’t looking forward to the long offseason ahead.
Chase said, “it hit me this week” that this could be the last game with wide receivers Tee Higgins and/or Tyler Boyd.
“Lot of memories. Lot of laughs,” Chase told reporters. “Just a lot of bonding going on with those guys. Something I can’t explain, that’s how much fun we always have.”
The three players have created one of the league’s best receiving units over the past three years (2021-23), combining for 645 catches for 8,727 yards and 59 touchdowns.
However, their dominance on the same team could be coming to a close on Sunday as Higgins’ and Boyd’s contracts are set to expire at the end of the season.
Both players deserve to be paid and likely will be. But that will be difficult to do for Cincinnati after making QB Joe Burrow the highest-paid quarterback in NFL history with a five-year, $275 million deal and a massive contract extension for Chase likely on the horizon.
Higgins is expected to receive a four-year, $66.32 million deal while Boyd is projected to get a three-year, $26.14 million contract, per Spotrac.
Although Chase wants them both to stay, he knows there probably isn’t enough money to go around and will let them handle their business on their own.
“They know I want them. They know what I want,” Chase added. “End of the day, it’s what they want. I won’t hold nobody back from what they want. Let them be the greatest they can be. I support everything they do.”
It will be quite an interesting offseason for the Bengals. But one thing’s for sure. As long as they have Burrow, they’ll always have a chance to win a Super Bowl.
[ad_2]
Source link