The Cincinnati Bengals are facing challenges with their wide receiver group at the moment. On one side, they’ve yet to reach a contract agreement with Tee Higgins, and it seems unlikely they’ll retain him after this season.
Meanwhile, Ja’Marr Chase has initiated a holdout, despite still having two years left on his current deal. With the season fast approaching, the Bengals must act swiftly to resolve these issues.
Given the situation, ESPN’s Adam Schefter turned to former Bengals standout Chad ‘Ochocinco’ Johnson for his take, and Johnson shared some predictions. He believes that Higgins will likely depart following this season because Cincinnati won’t be able to offer him the salary he deserves, forcing him to play under the franchise tag.
As for Chase, Johnson predicts that a new deal might be reached as soon as this week, given Joe Burrow’s reliance on his top target and potential dissatisfaction with Chase missing training camp.
This situation could set a problematic precedent. When players threaten to hold out with one year left on their contract, it raises concerns. However, doing so with two years remaining sets a worrying example.
While Chase is undoubtedly talented, his short time in the league makes such a move seem premature. Teams may eventually need to establish firm boundaries, refusing to renegotiate deals and instead allowing players to lose out on earnings if they choose to sit out.