You can call the Cincinnati Bengals smart or foolish to give both Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins massive contract extensions. The one thing for certain is that they will be very interesting to watch.
The people who make the NFL schedule seem to agree.
Cincinnati was featured on seven primetime evening games during its up-and-down 2024 campaign with a couple of them flexed to the night during the season. Despite missing the playoffs for a second consecutive season, the Bengals should be expected to have several more games in the national spotlight this year.
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Chase and Higgins sticking together is a big reason why.
Bengals set to stay playing in primetime games in 2025
NFL VP of broadcasting planning Mike North told Bengals.com's Geoff Hobson at this week's Annual League Meetings that the Bengals signing both of their star wide receivers will keep them in the group of clubs who will stay in the primetime conversation every year.
"There are teams that are going to have to probably play their way into primetime, and there are others that have earned it over the course of the last few years," North said. "I put the Bengals squarely in that category, and certainly retaining your stars is one way to ensure continued television exposure in this league."
"Retaining your stars" is an important phrase here from North. Much of the conversation surrounding the Bengals' bold decision last month involved the pure financial and on-field ramifications. Very little of it revolved around the idea of the Bengals as a brand for the league.
Would trading Higgins make the Bengals completely void of star-power? Not with Joe Burrow and Chase still headlining the offense and fantasy teams, but keeping him around and having it become a national storyline only solidifies the club in a high tier of notoriety.
People will want to watch if this experiment works. Never mind the fact that the Bengals have won significantly more games than not when Burrow, Chase, and Higgins are all on the field together, they'll want to see if it's sustainable now that they're all making bank.
The full NFL schedule will be released some time in May. Expect the Bengals to be featured in a handful of marquee matchups.
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