Cincinnati Bengals News & Rumors

Bengals Seeking Long-Term Deals For Ja’Marr Chase, Trey Hendrickson

The Bengals’ 2025 offseason will be defined by their ability to maintain as many core players as possible. A notable first step was foreshadowed yesterday when it was learned wideout Tee Higgins is expected to receive the franchise tag for the second year in a row.

[RELATED: Projecting Each Team’s 2025 Cap Space]

Higgins was on track to be (by far) the most sought-after receiver in free agency, but the tag will prevent him from hitting the market. A long-term deal is the goal for Cincinnati, and presuming the tag is applied by the March 4 deadline team and player will have until mid-July to work out an agreement. Committing to a notable Higgins raise will be challenging given the contract statuses of Ja’Marr Chase and Trey Hendrickson, but keeping all three in place is the team’s goal.

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler and Ben Baby report the Bengals aim to sign Chase and Hendrickson to long-term deals in addition to a new Higgins accord. Doing so would ensure stability at the receiver position and along the edge on defense, and it would certainly satisfy quarterback Joe Burrow‘s wishes. When speaking about the financial challenge Cincinnati faces this offseason, Burrow made it clear he would be willing to restructure his pact to free up cap space if necessary.

Negotiations with Chase took place throughout the 2024 offseason, and the team made it clear working out a monster extension was a priority. Waiting until 2025 increasingly seemed to be necessary, however, especially once Chase’s actions at training camp (which at times included holding in) did not yield a last-minute deal. To no surprise, the Bengals did not engage in contract talks with the former Offensive Rookie of the Year during the 2024 campaign.

Chase’s value was not in question entering the season, but if anything his performance upped his leverage at the negotiating table. The soon-to-be 25-year-old set new career highs across the board, topping the NFL in receptions (127), yards (1,708) and touchdowns (17). Coupled with the annual jump in the NFL’s salary cap, Chase has a clear case to surpass former LSU teammate Justin Jefferson as the league’s highest-paid receiver ($35MM per year).

That figure doubles as the high point for any non-quarterback contract as things stand. That could change this offseason, though, in no small part due to the potential for the edge rush market to take a notable step forward. Myles Garrett is in line for a new Browns pact or one which he will sign upon arriving via trade with a new team. T.J. Watt is among the veterans who could be extended at the position, meaning a Steelers raise could be in order. Micah Parsons‘ pending second contract, meanwhile, is the Cowboys’ top priority, and he could reset the market based on his age.

Nick Bosa‘s $34MM per season stands as the highest AAV in NFL history to a pass rusher, but that pact could be surpassed shortly. Despite Hendrickson’s age (30), he is in line to greatly benefit from the position’s upward movement on a new deal. The former Saint has racked up 57 sacks since signing as a free agent in 2021, including a league-leading 17.5 in 2024. Efforts to secure a raise last spring were unsuccessful, and Hendrickson’s resultant trade request was ignored by the Bengals.

With the parties in a similar situation this time around, de facto general manager Duke Tobin made it clear he is aware a lucrative new pact will be needed to keep Hendrickson in the fold. The four-time Pro Bowler is due $16MM in 2025 with a scheduled cap hit of $18.67MM; a long-term accord could allow for a new round of guarantees while lowering his immediate cap charge. For his part, Hendrickson is again open to changing teams to land a new pact, so the progress of talks with the Bengals will be worth watching closely with an outside market existing for his services.

With respect to pecking order, Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic writes Chase – set to play on his fifth-year option at the moment – is still atop the team’s to-do list (subscription required). Notably, he adds other pacts (including most importantly Higgins and Hendrickson) may actually get done before Cincinnati finalizes Chase’s new deal since the term and financial details should essentially be in place already. In any event, Tobin and Co. will be tasked with negotiating on a number of in-house fronts over the coming weeks.

Bengals Extend P Ryan Rehkow

For 14 years, Kevin Huber handled punting duties in Cincinnati. The team found a new contributor at the position in 2024, and he appears set to operate as Huber’s long-term successor.

The Bengals announced on Tuesday that Ryan Rehkow has signed a two-year extension. As a result, he is on the books through 2026 and will avoid ERFA status this offseason. The former undrafted free agent proved to be the team’s top option throughout his rookie season after winning out a competition with Brad Robbins.

The latter handled punting duties in 2023, the first season after Huber’s retirement. Robbins, selected in the sixth round of the 2023 draft, began this past campaign on IR but was among the players slated as designated for return during roster cutdowns. He returned to the active roster in September, but by that point Rehkow had cemented his status as the Bengals’ preferred choice. As a result, Robbins was waived immediately after his activation.

Rehkow grossed 49.1 yards per punt on average, with a net of 43.3. Both figures represented franchise records, and over 47% of the BYU product’s punts landed inside the opposition’s 20-yard line. As a result of that performance, today’s news comes as little surprise.

At the age of 26, Rehkow has the potential to serve as the Bengals’ punter well into the foreseeable future. After he earned $795K during his rookie campaign, a modest raise is likely coming his way as a result of his new pact.

Bengals “Likely” To Hit Tee Higgins With Franchise Tag

Tee Higgins is generally considered the top offensive free agent, but the Bengals WR might not even make it to the open market. According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero (via NFL.com’s Bobby Kownack), the Bengals are considered “likely” to hit Higgins with the franchise tag if the two sides can’t work out a long-term deal.

According to Pelissero, the Bengals front office is currently focused on signing the star wideout to a long-term pact, and there’s “hope” they won’t have to opt for the franchise tag for the second-straight year. If the organization does ultimately turn to the tag, they’ll effectively be committing to Higgins for yet another season (barring a trade), and they’d still have until the middle of July to work out an extension with the receiver.

The former second-round pick saw his rookie contract expire last offseason, but the Bengals held on to Higgins via the franchise tag. A second-straight franchise tag would be valued at 120% of Higgins’ 2024 earnings, which would come in at $26.2MM. The Bengals would presumably hope that number is a placeholder as they pursue a long-term deal, but it could also represent a slight discount as Higgins pursues a deal worth more than $30MM per year.

Joe Burrow has made it clear that he wants the Bengals to retain one of his top targets, but the organization’s upcoming financial commitments would make a Higgins deal difficult to navigate. Burrow himself is playing on a once-record-breaking extension, and the Bengals have yet to work out a long-term deal with fellow WR Ja’Marr Chase. The organization could theoretically commit a significant chunk of their cap to their three offensive stars, but there’s also a chance the team will just be keeping the trio together for one last run.

The 2024 campaign was one of Higgins’ most productive showings of his career, as he compiled 911 receiving yards and a career-high 10 touchdowns in just 12 games. His recent injury woes only slightly clouded his free agency outlook, as the WR was still expected to have plenty of suitors this offseason. If Higgins is ultimately slapped with the franchise tag, it will bode well for the rest of the free agent class, a group that includes veterans coming off injuries (like Chris Godwin and Stefon Diggs) and veterans who underwhelmed in new spots (like DeAndre Hopkins and Amari Cooper).

2025 NFL Cap Space, By Team

Free agency is roughly one month away, and teams are preparing for the first major roster-building checkpoint on the offseason calendar. In several cases, of course, the lead-in to the start of the new league year will require cost-cutting measures.

Teams expect the 2025 cap ceiling to check in somewhere between $265MM and $275MM, providing a general target to aim for before the final figure is unveiled by the NFL. Using a projected cap of $272.5MM, here is a look at where all 32 teams currently stand (courtesy of Over the Cap):

  1. New England Patriots: $119.8MM
  2. Las Vegas Raiders: $92.53MM
  3. Washington Commanders: $75.21MM
  4. Arizona Cardinals: $71.33MM
  5. Los Angeles Chargers: $63.41MM
  6. Chicago Bears: $62.97MM
  7. Minnesota Vikings: $58.01MM
  8. Pittsburgh Steelers: $53.26MM
  9. Cincinnati Bengals: $46.26MM
  10. Detroit Lions: $45.69MM
  11. San Francisco 49ers: $44.26MM
  12. Tennessee Titans: $44.08MM
  13. New York Giants: $43.38MM
  14. Green Bay Packers: $42.14MM
  15. Los Angeles Rams: $38.33MM
  16. Denver Broncos: $34.78MM
  17. Jacksonville Jaguars: $32.27MM
  18. Indianapolis Colts: $28.25MM
  19. Carolina Panthers: $20.33MM
  20. Philadelphia Eagles: $18.08MM
  21. New York Jets: $16.86MM
  22. Baltimore Ravens: $5.96MM
  23. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: $2.24MM
  24. Houston Texans: $99K over the cap
  25. Kansas City Chiefs: $916K over
  26. Dallas Cowboys: $2.85MM over
  27. Miami Dolphins: $5.44MM over
  28. Atlanta Falcons: $11.15MM over
  29. Seattle Seahawks: $13.46MM over
  30. Buffalo Bills: $14.18MM over
  31. Cleveland Browns: $30.17MM over
  32. New Orleans Saints: $54.11MM over

These figures will of course change based on where the final cap ceiling winds up for the year, but they take into account each team’s carryover amount for 2025. Even with those savings in play, more than one quarter of the league finds itself in need of cost-shedding moves to simply achieve cap compliance by mid-March.

With the Patriots leading the way in terms of spending power, they will be a team to watch closely once free agency begins. The team’s willingness (or lack thereof) to make major free agent additions last year was a talking point, and it will be interesting to see if the regime featuring de facto general manager Eliot Wolf and new head coach Mike Vrabel takes a different approach in 2025. A serious push for Tee Higgins – by far the most sought-after wideout set to hit the market – can be expected.

Aside from Higgins, the Bengals have a number of financial priorities. Working out a monster extension for fellow receiver Ja’Marr Chase and a new deal (and accompanying raise) for edge rusher Trey Hendrickson are key goals for the franchise. Quarterback Joe Burrow is prepared to restructure his own pact to create cap space for this offseason, but the team will no doubt need to break with tradition in terms of contract structure and guarantees to keep its core intact.

The Colts’ offseason has been defined in large part by a focus on retaining in-house players during recent years. That approach has not paid off as hoped, and general manager Chris Ballard said last month he plans to oversee a shift in roster-building philosophy this year. With the finances to make at least a modest addition or two on the open market, Indianapolis could be a suitor for some of the middle-class free agent options.

Over the coming weeks, many teams will proceed with extensions and restructures to free up cap space; the Seahawks recently took the latter route with defensive lineman Leonard Williams. Teams like the Steelers (in the case of edge rusher Preston Smith) and Dolphins (with running back Raheem Mostert as well as corner Kendall Fuller and tight end Durham Smythe) have already begin cutting veterans to free up cap space. That will increasingly continue in the near future with respect to the teams currently slated to be over the cap in particular.

Bengals LB Germaine Pratt Requests Trade

Bengals linebacker and defensive captain Germaine Pratt has requested a trade, per Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL.com.

Pratt set a career-high with 143 total tackles in 2024, which led the Bengals and ranked 11th among all defenders. Cincinnati’s defense was less successful as a unit, finishing in the bottom 10 in points and yards allowed. Those struggles culminated in the firing of longtime defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, who was replaced by Al Golden.

With a new DC and two major wide receiver contracts to negotiate, the Bengals are expected to move on from several veteran players on the defensive side of the ball. That includes Pratt, according to The Athletic’s Paul Dehner, who is entering the final year of his contract with a $8.18MM cap hit, per OverTheCap. A trade would net the Bengals some draft compensation while clearing $5.85MM from their 2025 salary cap with $2.33M in dead money. An acquiring team would take on Pratt’s $5.25MM base salary along with $250k in per game roster bonus, a $100k workout bonus, and $250k in likely-to-be-earned incentives.

With an affordable contract for a starting linebacker, there may be a trade market for Pratt’s services. The Bengals did not give into trade requests from Tee Higgins and Trey Hendrickson last year. However, since they seem likely to release Pratt anyway, other teams may wait for him to hit free agency rather than giving up a draft pick. Linebacker trades over the last two years have only involved players on their rookie contracts, with compensation maxing out at a Day 3 pick.

Pratt is not the only Bengal to signal his openness to a trade in recent weeks. Hendrickson said before the Super Bowl that he would prefer to be extended or traded as soon as possible. Other trade/cut candidates include defensive end Sam Hubbard, defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins, and safety Geno Stone, who would combine for $25MM in cap savings and just $5.5MM in dead money in 2025. Those moves would free up enough money for the Bengals to retain Higgins and sign Ja’Marr Chase to a massive extension, though the front office would have to find enough talent in free agency and the draft to field a competitive defense in 2025.

Patriots “Really Want” Tee Higgins, WR Expected To Top $30MM AAV

As expected, the Patriots will be a main suitor for the top free agent wideout. According to Jason La Canfora of the Washington Post, the organization is focused on signing wide receiver Tee Higgins.

[RELATED: Patriots To Be “Heavily Involved” In Tee Higgins Pursuit]

La Canfora spoke to multiple executives about Higgins’ impending free agency, with one GM stating that the Patriots “really want this guy.” The organization has continually been connected to the Bengals star wideout as they look to surround quarterback Drake Maye with as much talent as possible. Back in December, we heard New England would be “heavily involved” in the sweepstakes, and this latest report indicates that Robert Kraft will be willing to open the checkbook.

As one executive told La Canfora, the Patriots owner “rightfully” took plenty of grief for his recent lack of spending, and there’s a belief Kraft will look to right his wrongs via Higgins. With a league-leading ~$131MM in projected cap room, the Patriots should have more than enough wiggle room to make a big splash. For what it’s worth, the organization was a main participant in last offseason’s Calvin Ridley sweepstakes, so the Patriots have already shown a willingness to spend at the position.

Many of the executives polled by La Canfora opined that Higgins will ultimately land a contract that pays him more than $30MM per season. This doesn’t come as a huge surprise considering five WRs (Justin Jefferson, CeeDee Lamb, A.J. Brown, Amon-Ra St. Brown, and Brandon Aiyuk) joined Tyreek Hill at that AAV mark last year. That would also surely be out of the price range for the Bengals, who still have to navigate the upcoming Ja’Marr Chase extension.

There are fair reasons to question Higgins’ standing as a WR1 and/or one of the highest-paid players at his position. However, beggars can’t be choosers, and his spot in the free agent hierarchy means a bidding war should help him eclipse that $30MM AAV mark.

Jaguars Interview Trey Brown For GM

The Jaguars have completed an interview with Bengals senior personnel executive Trey Brown for their general manager vacancy, per a team announcement.

Brown has been one of the league’s hottest GM candidates over the last two cycles. He received interest from the Raiders and the Patriots in 2024 and interviewed with the Jets twice this year. Now, he finds himself on Jacksonville’s radar after they fired Trent Baalke to secure the services of new head coach Liam Coen.

Brown began his front office career as a scout with the Patriots (2010-2012) and the Eagles (2013-2014). He rose up the ranks in Philadelphia to become the director of college scouting in 2016, a position he held for three years before joining the AAF’s Birmingham Iron as executive vice president of football operations in 2019. Brown then moved to the XFL as the St. Louis Battlehawks’ director of player personnel in 2020 before returning to the NFL in 2021.

Brown spent one year as a scout in Cincinnati before his promotion to senior personnel executive. During his tenure, the Bengals added Orlando Brown in free agency and signed Joe Burrow to a long-term extension. However, their 2024 season was marred by poor defense and a struggling rushing attack, though Burrow still led the NFL in passing yards and touchdowns.

Brown has no direct connections with Coen, though Bengals head coach Zac Taylor worked closely with Coen in Los Angeles in 2018. If hired, he would seek to provide Trevor Lawrence with additional pass-catching options outside of rookie receiving leader Brian Thomas while upgrading one of the league’s worst defenses heading into 2025.

Here are the rest of the Jaguars’ candidates for the job:

Tee Higgins Open To Staying With Bengals, Views Himself As No. 1 WR

Although Joe Burrow continues to turn up the heat on the Bengals regarding Tee Higgins, the team’s longtime No. 2 wide receiver is viewed as more likely than not to hit the market next month. He will be a top-tier free agent if/when that happens.

Higgins has spoken fondly of Cincinnati, despite his Bengals partnership not including real negotiations since early during the 2023 offseason, and continues to do so. But the five-year veteran’s most recent statement points continue to point toward an exit.

Obviously, we want to build something here in Cincy, but it’s not in my hands right now,” Higgins said, via FOX19’s Joe Danneman. “So, I’ve got to do what I need to do. If that’s go to another team, then that’s what happens.

I love it here; I love the city; I love the fans; I love the coaching staff, everything in the building. But, it’s not in my control.”

If the Bengals do not re-tag Higgins — at $26.82MM — staying with the team would be in his control. Though, the market is expected to escalate beyond the Bengals’ rumored comfort zone. De facto Bengals GM Duke Tobin said recently the team would be interested in retaining Higgins at the “right number.” Based on where the franchise is with Ja’Marr Chase and the trajectory of the Higgins (non)-negotiations, it is safe to assume that number is south of what Higgins could fetch in free agency.

Despite Higgins having missed five games in consecutive seasons, bidding is expected to land around $30MM per year. With last year’s free agency dominoes helping Calvin Ridley secure $23MM AAV as the top unattached receiver, it may have been beneficial for Higgins to have been tagged when he was. Higgins, 26, was coming off a down 2023 season (career-low 656 receiving yards); the WR market also did not reside where it does today. At the time the 2024 league year began, Tyreek Hill‘s $30MM-per-year Dolphins contract still led the way at receiver. Now, six wideouts are tied to $30MM-AAV deals. Higgins could soon be No. 7.

The Clemson alum said (via Danneman) he views himself as a No. 1 wideout. That title is not available in Cincinnati, which has placed a higher priority on extending its top target. The price of a Chase re-up almost definitely climbed after the four-year veteran’s triple crown season. A franchise not known for lofty guarantees beyond quarterback will likely need to go well outside its comfort zone to ensure Chase stays on a second contract. These proceedings certainly may drag into the summer; by then, Higgins could be long gone.

Last year’s extension run ended with the Eagles and Dolphins showing that carrying two high-end WR deals along with a franchise-QB salary is doable. Planning a Super Bowl blueprint, Philly re-upped A.J. Brown at $32MM per year and then circled back to DeVonta Smith at $25MM per annum. The Dolphins paid Waddle ($28.25MM AAV) and then authorized a significant guarantee bump on Hill’s $30MM-per-year pact. The Eagles, who also found money for Saquon Barkley (3/37.75), have been far more innovative in terms of contract structure compared to the Bengals. It would take some creativity for Cincinnati to find room for Higgins and have Chase on a WR-record accord.

Burrow has said he would restructure his contract to help the team afford Higgins, whom he has pushed the organization to re-sign for months. This is not exactly a sacrifice, as Burrow’s contract value would not be affected; rather, his payment schedule would change as a result of a restructure. The Bengals are not big on restructures, however, and the team may need to apply a second tag to ensure Higgins stays. Hitting the market when the legal tampering period starts March 10 would trigger a frenzy, as the Patriots will be one of many teams in pursuit.

Burrow’s cap number is set to check in at $46.25MM — $17MM north of its 2024 place — as the higher figures from his 2023 extension kick in. Absent a Burrow restructure, the team is expected to hold more than $46MM in cap space. If the Bengals do not reshuffle Burrow’s deal in an effort to re-tag Higgins and keep him off the market, a difficult conversation between the superstar QB and management will likely take place.

Raiders’ Maxx Crosby, Bengals’ Trey Hendrickson Could Draw Trade Interest

The edge rush position will be one to watch closely as the 2025 offseason unfolds. Myles Garrett is seeking a move out of Cleveland, while the Cowboys have given thought to the idea of a potential Micah Parsons trade.

Those defensive ends have company in terms of needing lucrative new deals in the near future and therefore find themselves as targets for teams looking for upgrades in the pass-rush department. Maxx Crosby (Raiders) as well as Trey Hendrickson (Bengals) are names to monitor on the trade market. That will especially be the case if Garrett – whom the Browns have no intention of moving – and Parsons remain with their respective teams.

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler writes Crosby and Hendrickson would be expected to draw notable trade interest if one or both were to become available. The former has two more years on his deal with $21.92MM owed in 2025 and ’26. None of Crosby’s base salaries in that span are guaranteed, though, so he could look to again land a new pact featuring significant up front compensation.

With Vegas struggling this past season, Crosby was named as a potential trade candidate. Owner Mark Davis unequivocally shot down speculation on that front in October, but the team is coming off a 4-13 campaign and does not have a long-term solution at the quarterback spot. Crosby, 27, has seen his team make the playoffs just once in his six NFL seasons despite racking up 59.5 sacks during that time. The four-time Pro Bowler was limited to 12 games by an ankle injury, but his durability during the rest of his career – coupled with his high-end production – would make him an attractive target to any number of suitors.

Hendrickson requested a trade last offseason after his efforts to secure a raise were unsuccessful. The Bengals made it clear they would not look to move him, and the 30-year-old ultimately reported to the team during training camp without issue. Hendrickson delivered another strong season in 2024, leading the NFL with 17.5 sacks. A notable raise is in store as a result, something de facto general manager Duke Tobin is well aware of and quarterback Joe Burrow would be on board with.

Knowing the financial situation Cincinnati is in (wideouts Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins are in need of lucrative new pacts), Hendrickson is open to securing his next contract via trade. The All-Pro could approach or surpass the $30MM-per-year mark, per Fowler, something which would no doubt be more likely on a short-term pact than a lengthy accord. Still, the All-Pro’s production (57 sacks in 65 Bengals games) would be a welcomed addition for teams with the draft capital and cap space needed to pull off a trade and extension. Echoing Fowler’s report, Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL Network note a strong market will exist for Hendrickson if he becomes available.

Nick Bosa‘s $34MM AAV with the 49ers currently leads the way for edge rushers (and all defenders) at the top of the market. Several players could surpass that mark in the coming weeks and months, especially if the Raiders and Bengals are unwilling to meet the asking price Crosby and/or Hendrickson submit this offseason. Against the backdrop of other potential movement amongst high-prolife edge rushers, their respective situations will make for intriguing offseason storylines.

Updated 2025 NFL Draft Order

With Super Bowl LIX in the books, the 2024 campaign has come to a close. The final first-round order for April’s draft is now set as a result.

All 32 teams currently own a Day 1 selection, leaving the door open to each one adding a prospect in the first round for the first time since expansion in 2002. Any number of trades will no doubt take place between now and the draft, though, and it will be interesting to see how teams maneuver in the lead-in to the event. Of course, Tennessee in particular will be worth watching closely with a move to sell off the No. 1 pick being seen as a distinct possibility.

A weak quarterback class will leave teams like the Titans, Browns, Giants and Raiders with plenty of key offseason decisions. The free agent and trade markets do not offer many short-term alternatives which are seen as surefire additions, and teams which do not make moves in March will rely on the incoming group of rookies as part of their efforts to find a long-term solution under center. The two prospects seen as the clear-cut top options in 2025, however, are two-way Colorado star Travis Hunter and Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter.

For non-playoff teams, the draft order is determined by the inverted 2024 standings plus a series of tiebreakers, starting with strength of schedule. Playoff squads are slotted by their postseason outcome and the reverse order of their regular season record.

Here is a final look at the first-round order:

  1. Tennessee Titans (3-14)
  2. Cleveland Browns (3-14)
  3. New York Giants (3-14)
  4. New England Patriots (4-13)
  5. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-13)
  6. Las Vegas Raiders (4-13)
  7. New York Jets (5-12)
  8. Carolina Panthers (5-12)
  9. New Orleans Saints (5-12)
  10. Chicago Bears (5-12)
  11. San Francisco 49ers (6-11)
  12. Dallas Cowboys (7-10)
  13. Miami Dolphins (8-9)
  14. Indianapolis Colts (8-9)
  15. Atlanta Falcons (8-9)
  16. Arizona Cardinals (8-9)
  17. Cincinnati Bengals (9-8)
  18. Seattle Seahawks (10-7)
  19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-7)
  20. Denver Broncos (10-7)
  21. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7)
  22. Los Angeles Chargers (11-6)
  23. Green Bay Packers (11-6)
  24. Minnesota Vikings (14-3)
  25. Houston Texans (10-7)
  26. Los Angeles Rams (10-7)
  27. Baltimore Ravens (12-5)
  28. Detroit Lions (15-2)
  29. Washington Commanders (12-5)
  30. Buffalo Bills (13-4)
  31. Kansas City Chiefs (15-2)
  32. Philadelphia Eagles (14-3)