The Bengals have yet to write any literal new checks to receiver Ja'Marr Chase. The figurative check written at the Scouting Combine keeps getting more expensive. “He is going to end up being the No.

It’s possible that he may be a little confused by the Bengals using the franchise tag on Higgins when they’ve stated their hope of signing him to a long-term deal. A franchise tag can be a temporary placeholder before a long-term deal, but it can also just be a one-year contract.

The Cincinnati Bengals and paying top players big money hasn’t always been a pairing that has gone together. However, they did make Joe Burrow the highest-paid player in the NFL for a time and may look to set another benchmark for Ja’Marr Chase.