Joe Burrow says he’d accept Bengals proposal as | NFL News

Cincinnati Bengals star Joe Burrow has hinted at a willingness to restructure his own contract for the nice of the staff, significantly if it means retaining team-mate Tee Higgins.

As Higgins is poised to be a prime huge receiver expertise in free company this March and at solely 26, a aggressive market awaits him. He’s been anticipating an extension from the Bengals for the final couple of years.

Given Cincinnati’s balancing act required to pay Burrow and high receiver Ja’Marr Chase, the state of affairs is advanced. Yet, quarterback Burrow, who is keen for Higgins to stay on board, has said he is open to creating his contract more cap-friendly.

This may contain changing some wage into a signing bonus, spreading funds later into the deal, or presumably taking much less money. Appearing on the Pardon My Take podcast, when quizzed about which method he would possibly favour, the 28-year-old stated: “we’ll see.”

But on the subject of shifting funds into a signing bonus to facilitate Higgins’ keep, he stated: “I would do that”, stories the Mirror US. Higgins was reportedly searching for a commerce final offseason, with rumours surfacing that he submitted a request simply hours earlier than the NFL Draft.

However, with out a deal in place, the Bengals retained him and signed him to a franchise-tag, securing his companies for an additional 12 months on a $21million contract. Regardless of the staff’s present place on Higgins, Burrow’s dedication to conserving his team-mate in Cincinnati is unequivocal.

In a media interplay in December final 12 months, he stated: “Whenever a great player leaves, you wish you could have found a way to keep them. You don’t want to make a living out of letting great players leave the building. I think that’s why you’ve got to do everything you can to get those deals done early.”

On December ninth, 2024, he stated: “I am confident we are going to be able to do what it takes to bring Tee back – that I’m going to do what it takes to get him back and so is he. We’ve had those talks. Those are going to be offseason discussions, but I think we are excited about that opportunity.”

Higgins himself has additionally voiced his need to stay in Ohio. “That’s what it’s all about: another brother looking out for his brother. He’s [Burrow] putting that pressure on the front office,” He instructed Joe Danneman of Fox 19 in Cincinnati. “You never know what the future holds.

“Obviously, I might like to be right here. I find it irresistible right here, I really like the town, I really like the followers, I really like the teaching employees, every thing within the building, but it surely’s not in my control.”

Higgins delivered consecutive 1,000-yard seasons for the Bengals in 2021 and 2022. In a dozen matches in 2024, he made 73 catches for 911 yards and achieved a career-best 10 touchdowns. The New England Patriots, Green Bay Packers and Washington Commanders are all seen as frontrunners for Higgins, with each the Patriots and the Commanders boasting over $100 million in wage cap space.