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Tee Higgins Tee Higgins Signs long-term deal with CIN
Sun, Mar 16, 2025, 10:07 PM
Higgins and the Bengals agreed on a four-year, $115 million contract with the first two years guaranteed Sunday, Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports reports.
Analysis: Higgins and Cincinnati were able to come to an agreement on a long-term deal after the wide receiver had been franchise tagged for the second straight year. The 26-year-old caught 73 of 109 targets for 911 yards and 10 touchdowns over 12 regular-season games in 2024, and he'll now remain a Bengal for the foreseeable future. Teammate Ja'Marr Chase and the team also agreed on a four-year, $161 million contract extension Sunday, so the formidable wideout duo will continue to cause problems for defenses for years to come. |
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Ja'Marr Chase Ja'Marr Chase Signs record-setting deal with CIN
Sun, Mar 16, 2025, 10:00 PM
Chase and the Bengals agreed on a four-year, $161 million contract extension with $112 million guaranteed Sunday, Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports reports.
Analysis: Chase officially has gotten his massive deal, which makes him the highest paid non-quarterback in NFL history. In total, he's now under contract for the next five years, in line to earn $182.816 million, per Schultz. The wide receiver has been nothing short of elite during his four-year career with the Bengals, most recently winning the NFL's "triple crown" in 2024, catching 127 of 175 targets for 1,708 yards and 17 touchdowns over 17 regular-season games. Additionally, teammate Tee Higgins and Cincinnati agreed on a four-year, $115 million deal Sunday, keeping both of Joe Burrow's top pass catchers under contract for the foreseeable future. |
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Samaje Perine Samaje Perine Reunion with Cincinnati on tap
Mon, Mar 10, 2025, 2:23 PM
The Bengals are slated to sign Perine to a two-year contract worth up to $3.8 million, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.
Analysis: Perine gets a chance to return to Cincinnati, where he played from 2020-22. The veteran pass-catching specialist figures to operate primarily as a change-of-pace option with the Bengals, with Chase Brown (ankle) standing atop the depth chart after a breakout 2024 campaign, and Zack Moss (neck) under contract for one more season. Across 17 regular-season games with the Chiefs in 2024, Perine rushed 20 times for 92 yards and a touchdown, while also securing 28 catches of 35 targets for 322 yards and a touchdown. |
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Mike Gesicki Mike Gesicki Three-year extension with Cincy
Sat, Mar 8, 2025, 11:09 AM
The Bengals signed Gesicki to a three-year, $25.5 million extension Saturday, Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports reports.
Analysis: Gesicki joined the Bengals on a one-year, $2.5 million contract in March of 2024 after spending the 2023 season with the Patriots and the first five years of his NFL career with the Dolphins. After logging 61 catches in the two seasons prior to 2024, Gesicki had a nice bounce-back campaign in Cincinnati, where he registered 65 catches (on 83 targets) for 665 yards and two touchdowns across 17 regular-season games. Gesicki had six games in which he tallied at least 50 receiving yards, and the 2018 second-round pick out of Penn State will continue to serve as Joe Burrow's security blanket in the passing game. |
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Tanner Hudson Tanner Hudson Staying in Cincinnati
Fri, Mar 7, 2025, 10:07 AM
Hudson signed a one-year contract with the Bengals on Friday.
Analysis: Hudson had a brief moment in the sun during the 2023 season, averaging 4.1 catches for 35.7 yards over a seven-game stretch, but Mike Gesicki then replaced him as Cincinnati's top pass-catching TE in 2024. Hudson finished last season with a 19-154-1 receiving line (23 targets) in 11 games, missing six weeks with two separate knee injuries. He turned 30 in November and likely will have to settle for a reserve role in 2025 even if the Bengals don't re-sign Gesicki. |
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Tee Higgins Tee Higgins Not on trade market
Thu, Mar 6, 2025, 9:08 AM
Teams have contacted the Bengals about trading for Higgins but have been told he isn't available, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: A franchise tag can pave the way for a trade, but in this case it seems more likely to lead to a multi-year contract. The Bengals may end up rethinking their stance, however, if negotiations don't progress within the next few weeks and there's serious risk of no long-term agreement being reached before the July 15 deadline. Higgins might hesitate to sign his franchise tag (worth $26.17 million) if that were to happen, having already played under the tag once, although he'd likely still sign it before Week 1 rather than miss out on around $1.5 million each week. The Bengals hope it won't come to that and presumably have already begun negotiations for a multi-year contract. |
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Tee Higgins Tee Higgins Franchise tagged again
Mon, Mar 3, 2025, 1:40 PM
Higgins (ankle) announced Monday via his personal social media accounts that the Bengals have informed him he will receive the franchise tag.
Analysis: Cincinnati will place the franchise tag on Higgins for a second consecutive offseason, positioning him to play out the 2025 campaign on a one-year, $26.17 million contract unless both sides can reach agreement on a long-term extension by July 15. The move prevents Higgins from hitting free agency at the start of the new league year next week, as he would have been arguably the top available player on the open market. The Bengals have expressed a commitment in retaining the 26-year-old wideout via a long-term deal, motivated no doubt in part by Joe Burrow's public statements that he desires Higgins, Ja'Marr Chaseand pass rusher Trey Hendrickson kept together as a headline trio. Higgins posted a 73-911-10 receiving line despite playing just 12 regular-season games in 2024. |
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Tee Higgins Tee Higgins Expected to be franchise tagged
Mon, Feb 17, 2025, 1:53 PM
The Bengals are expected to apply the franchise tag to Higgins (ankle), the window for which will officially open Tuesday and last until March 4, James Rapien of SI.com reports.
Analysis: Higgins played on the franchise tag in 2024, when he managed a 73-911-10 line on 109 targets across 12 regular-season games, posting double-digit touchdowns for the first time in his career. Quarterback Joe Burrow already has made his desire for Higgins to be retained clear, per Michael Baca of NFL.com, and the franchise tag could act as a first step for both sides to negotiate a long-term deal. Were he to hit the free-agent market, Higgins would be the top available option at the wide receiver position, if not across the board. Higgins would carry a one-year salary of $26.17 million were he to play out 2025 on the franchise tag. |
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Jermaine Burton Jermaine Burton Records four receptions as rookie
Fri, Feb 14, 2025, 11:25 PM
Burton notched four catches on 14 targets for 107 yards over 14 regular-season games in 2024. He added 378 yards on 13 kick returns.
Analysis: After being selected in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft, Burton got limited run in his first pro campaign. He was inefficient in catching balls thrown his way, though he did show an ability to make big plays, as two of his four catches went for over 40 yards. Late in the campaign, Burton took over as the Bengals' primary kick returner and showed significant promise in that role, averaging 29.1 yards per return. The Alabama product was held out of the Bengals' regular-season finale due to an off-the-field event, and though that isn't expected to carry over into next season, Burton was also benched for a game earlier in the season for disciplinary reasons. He'll likely need to make a better impression on and off the field in order to have a chance to grow in the Bengals' offense next year. |
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Jake Browning Jake Browning Works only in mop-up duty in 2024
Fri, Feb 14, 2025, 11:08 PM
Browning didn't throw a pass over three regular-season games in 2024. He rushed twice for minus-2 yards.
Analysis: A season-ending injury to Joe Burrow in Week 11 of 2023 gave Browning an opportunity for substantial playing time, but Burrow remained healthy throughout 2024, and Browning consequently spent almost the entire campaign on the bench. Browning signed a two-year contract with Cincinnati last April, so he's slated to work as Burrow's backup again next season. |
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Joe Burrow Joe Burrow Wins Comeback Player of the Year
Thu, Feb 6, 2025, 8:36 PM
Burrow was named the 2024 NFL Comeback Player of the Year on Thursday, Rob Maaddi of the Associated Press reports.
Analysis: Burrow had a resurgent 2024 campaign after missing seven games in 2023 due to a wrist injury. This season, the quarterback completed 71 percent of his passes for an NFL-high 4,918 passing yards and 43 touchdowns, while throwing nine interceptions over 17 regular-season games. Burrow also added 201 rushing yards and two touchdowns on the ground. |
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Mitchell Tinsley Mitchell Tinsley Heading to Cincinnati
Tue, Feb 4, 2025, 2:09 PM
The Bengals signed Tinsley to a reserve/future contract Tuesday.
Analysis: Tinsley spent his first two years in the league with Washington, but now he'll have a chance to make a positive impression on a new coaching staff in Cincinnati. He has just three regular-season offensive snaps under his belt going into 2025. |
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Erick All Erick All In danger of missing season
Tue, Jan 28, 2025, 12:06 PM
All (knee) is a candidate to miss the entire 2025 campaign due to the right ACL tear he sustained in early November, Paul Dehner of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: The tight end previously tore the ACL in college during the 2023 season at Iowa, creating complications with the latest injury that will require two surgeries to correct. The first procedure has already been performed, and the second is set to happen in the coming months, at which point a normal recovery process can begin. All managed to impress in his nine appearances (six starts) as a rookie, securing 20 of 22 targets for 158 yards. He isn't expected to have any further issues with his right knee following the surgeries. |
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Cam Grandy Cam Grandy Signs one-year extension
Tue, Jan 21, 2025, 11:13 AM
The Bengals inked Grandy to a one-year contract extension Tuesday.
Analysis: Grandy suited up for eight regular-season games as an undrafted rookie with Cincinnati, and in that span he secured all five of his targets for 28 yards. Down the stretch, the former practice-squad player managed to carve out a consistent depth role. He's now earned an opportunity to continue his development in the Bengals' tight end corps heading into the 2025 season. |
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Trayveon Williams Trayveon Williams Zero carries all season
Thu, Jan 9, 2025, 1:12 PM
Williams played just one offensive snap in the Bengals' season finale against the Steelers and didn't have a carry or target, despite Chase Brown sitting the game out.
Analysis: In fact, Williams didn't net a single carry nor target all season long, playing just 10 offensive snaps all season. He last had a kickoff return in Week 4 against the Panthers. Unless the Bengals value his kick and punt coverage, he's unlikely to be a part of their future. |
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Cam Grandy Cam Grandy Small late-season contributions
Thu, Jan 9, 2025, 12:52 PM
Grandy caught one pass for nine yards in the season finale against the Steelers, giving him five catches on the season.
Analysis: The former practice-squad player was elevated first in Week 10 against the Ravens and essentially served as a fourth tight end for a Bengals team that used their tight ends a lot more than they had in previous seasons. |
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Tanner Hudson Tanner Hudson Sparsely used
Thu, Jan 9, 2025, 12:49 PM
Hudson played just three offensive snaps in the Bengals' season-ending win over the Steelers, catching one pass for 11 yards.
Analysis: Hudson was squarely behind Mike Gesicki and Drew Sample at tight end on the Bengals' depth chart. He caught 19 passes for 154 yards and a touchdown over 11 games, falling off quite a bit from 2023 when he had more than twice as many targets. Gesicki stayed relatively healthy this season, as opposed to 2023, when Irv Smith's extended absences afforded Hudson more opportunity. |
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Drew Sample Drew Sample Four receptions in finale
Thu, Jan 9, 2025, 12:47 PM
Sample tied a season-high with four catches in Saturday's Week 18 win over the Steelers, netting just 14 yards. For the season Sample caught 20 passes for 109 yards and a touchdown across 17 games.
Analysis: Sample has been a blocking-first tight end for most of his career, dating back to his college days at the University of Washington. This season falls sharply in line with his career production. |
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Kendric Pryor Kendric Pryor Signs futures deal with Bengals
Tue, Jan 7, 2025, 4:47 PM
Cincinnati signed Pryor to a reserve/future contract Tuesday.
Analysis: Pryor was signed to the Bengals' practice squad Aug. 29 after failing to make the team's 53-man roster at the end of training camp. He was elevated to the active roster for three games (playing in two) and finished with one catch for nine yards, which came in Week 9 against the Raiders. Pryor will participate in OTAs and minicamp with the Bengals when the new league year begins March 12, and the 26-year-old wide receiver will spend the offseason working on earning a spot on the Bengals' roster for the 2025 season. |
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Gary Brightwell Gary Brightwell Staying in Cincinnati
Tue, Jan 7, 2025, 4:38 PM
The Bengals signed Brightwell to a reserve/future contract Tuesday.
Analysis: Brightwell began the 2024 regular season on the Browns' active roster, playing in Week 3 and 4 and posting 36 kick-return yards while contributing exclusively on special teams. He was cut from Cleveland's active roster Oct. 1, and after two separate stints on the Browns' practice squad, he opted to sign with the Bengals' practice squad Nov. 11. He didn't end up playing for Cincinnati during the regular season, but he will be part of the Bengals' 90-man roster once the league year starts March 12. |
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