Burrow: Several Bengals deserve to be paid 'what they're worth'
Quarterback Joe Burrow is continuing to advocate for star receiver Ja'Marr Chase and several other Cincinnati Bengals teammates to be paid their fair share this coming offseason.
"Week in and week out, (Chase) continues to make unbelievable plays, makes people miss, scores 50-plus-yard touchdowns," Burrow said Thursday at the Pro Bowl Games in Orlando, Florida, per ESPN's Ben Baby. "I mean, I don't know what more he could do to show and prove himself."
Burrow added: "We have several guys like that who have stepped up for us and deserve to be paid, and deserve to be paid what they're worth."
The Bengals are poised to have a pivotal offseason that could see the team pay some of the club's biggest stars. Chase is entering the final year of his rookie contract after leading the NFL with 127 catches, 1,708 yards, and 17 touchdowns to capture the triple crown.
Receiver Tee Higgins is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent this spring after signing a one-year franchise tender for the 2024 season that paid him $28.1 million. Higgins finished second on the Bengals with 73 receptions for 911 yards and 10 TDs despite missing five games during the regular season due to injuries.
Defensive end Trey Hendrickson has also reportedly indicated his desire to have his pact revised and requested a trade last offseason after a contract impasse. The first-team All-Pro defender led the NFL in the regular season with 17.5 sacks and is a finalist for Defensive Player of the Year.
Director of personnel Duke Tobin said earlier this week that extending Chase's contract is "a priority." Tobin also discussed the importance of completing a deal with Hendrickson but said it "remains to be determined" whether the sides can agree on an extension.
Burrow produced career highs by passing for 4,918 yards and 43 touchdowns with a 70.6% completion rate in 2024. Despite Burrow and Chase being among the finalists for Offensive Player of the Year, the star quarterback lamented the Bengals' shortcomings after finishing 9-8 and missing the playoffs for a second consecutive season.
"We would have liked to have more wins, for sure," Burrow said. "A lot of individual success. Not as much team success as we would have liked, too. We have some things that we have to get ironed out this offseason to put ourselves in a better position at the end of the year."