Cincy Jungle
Who makes up the Bengals’ core?
The Cincinnati Bengals have one of the most important offseasons in franchise history ahead of them. They’re coming off a 9-8 season in which they missed the playoffs despite Joe Burrow’s MVP-caliber performance, Ja’Marr Chase’s Triple Crown and Trey Hendrickson leading the league in sacks.
Now, they’re in a position where they need to extend Chase — who, after leading all NFL receivers in every major statistical category, is poised to reset the market — along with Hendrickson while looking to re-sign Tee Higgins.
That doesn’t even include decisions on B.J. Hill, Mike Hilton, or Joseph Ossai, all of whom are pending free agents. The Bengals have the money to do whatever they want, but what they may want to do is operate within their comfort zone. Hopefully, that won’t be the case, but we’ll have to wait a few more weeks to see what their actual plan is.
For now, let’s focus on the core of this team. Who are the most important players on both sides of the ball that the front office needs to build around to create a championship contender?
This couldn’t be more obvious. Burrow is, by far, the most important player on the team. The offense flows through him, and he’s in the elite tier along with Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, and Josh Allen. He finished 2024 with 4,918 passing yards, 43 touchdowns, and only nine interceptions, completing just over 70% of his passes.
He took the Bengals to the Super Bowl after the 2021 season and the AFC Championship Game the following year. His only knock is his durability—he has finished two of his five seasons on injured reserve—but when he’s healthy, there are few better passers in the league.
The Bengals “attempted” to extend Chase before the 2024 season, and they likely regret not getting a deal done. Now that he’s won the Triple Crown, he’s going to reset the wide receiver market—and he should. Justin Jefferson currently holds the highest annual salary at $35 million per year. It’s not inconceivable that Chase could demand $40 million annually, and the Bengals will pay it.
Burrow has made it clear—time and again—that he wants the front office to keep Higgins, Chase, and Hendrickson. If they don’t, they’ll surely prioritize keeping Burrow’s college teammate. Chase may soon become the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history.
Few teams have two legitimate No. 1 wide receivers. The position is so expensive that most franchises can’t afford more than one, especially if they already have high-paying contracts along the offensive line and defense. The Bengals, however, have been one of the few teams to enjoy two elite receivers on the same roster.
The only reason Higgins might walk is because he plays on the same team as the best...
