Arguably, no group benefited extra from the NFL’s elevated wage cap than the Cincinnati Bengals.
On Wednesday, ESPN’s Dan Graziano tweeted the league’s 2025 wage cap is anticipated to fall someplace between $277.5M and $281.5M, up from $255.4M in 2024.
“The continued rise of the wage cap ought to make it simpler for groups to retain key gamers with extra monetary house to work with,” wrote Entrance Workplace Sports activities’ Alex Schiffer Wednesday. “For a group just like the Bengals, which at present has two disgruntled receivers on its roster, the upper cap makes it simpler to maintain each gamers.”
Per Kelsey Conway of the Cincinnati Enquirer, the Bengals are anticipated to franchise-tag huge receiver Tee Higgins earlier than the window closes on March 4 at 4 p.m. ET. After tagging Higgins, the Bengals would have till July 15 to signal the 26-year-old to a long-term deal.
Tagging Higgins would forestall him from hitting free company, however it nonetheless would not solidify his future with the franchise. He requested a commerce final offseason and will do this once more.
Fellow Cincinnati WR Ja’Marr Chase — who will enter the final 12 months of his rookie contract in 2025 — can be in line for an extension.
The Bengals should retain each wideouts. In 2024, Chase had 17 landing catches in 17 video games, whereas Higgins had 10 in 12 video games. Nonetheless, signing each could be costly.
Spotrac estimates Higgins’ market value is a four-year deal price $25.4M yearly. In the meantime, Chase may land a deal price not less than $40M per 12 months, by way of Fox Sports activities’ Jordan Schultz.
Nonetheless, the next wage cap provides Cincinnati extra spending room. According to Over the Cap, the Bengals now have $53.13M in cap room.
Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow lately informed Barstool Sports activities’ “Pardon My Take” he is keen to restructure his contract (5 years, $275M), which might enhance Cincinnati’s cap house. Over the Cap approximates {that a} Burrow restructure would yield $19.26M in cap financial savings.
Discovering a method to pay each wideouts will probably be difficult for the Bengals, however that out of the blue appears extra possible.
