While the NFL is barely a month removed from crowning the Philadelphia Eagles as Super Bowl LIX champions, free agency is already upon us. With the negotiating period underway before the new league year officially begins at 4 p.m. ET March 12, the moves are flying in from around the league.
We’ll have every major signing, re-signing and trade graded below, starting with the most recent action, including the Cincinnati Bengals re-signing Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins to record deals.
March 17Bengals re-sign Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins
In one fell swoop, the Cincinnati Bengals took a massive step toward shedding their long-standing label of being cheap.
On Sunday night, the Bengals signed receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, keeping both for the foreseeable future. With Chase, he signed the largest nonquarterback deal in NFL history, getting $161 million over a four-year extension including $112 million guaranteed. Higgins gets the same term and $115 million with the first two seasons fully guaranteed.
After a summer of turmoil in 2024, it should be one of bliss once training camp rolls around in Cincinnati during he summer. Chase, 25, is coming off winning the receiver’s triple crown with 127 catches, 1,708 yards and 17 touchdowns. Higgins, 26, played only 12 games but still caught 73 passes for 911 yards and 10 scores.
While there are legitimate questions about the entire defense, the Bengals should once again have one of the highest-scoring offenses in the league.
Grade: A
March 15Chiefs re-sign JuJu Smith-Schuster
After bringing JuJu Smith-Schuster back prior to Week 1 of last season after his release from the Kansas City Chiefs, it appears both sides are interested in more.
On Saturday, the Chiefs and Smith-Schuster agreed to a one-year deal, likely for the league’s vet minimum. Smith-Schuster, 28, was a role player in Kansas City last year, playing in 14 games and totaling 18 catches for 231 yards and two touchdowns. In the postseason, he caught four passes for 76 yards.
At this juncture, he slots in as the fourth receiver on the depth chart behind Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy and Marquise “Hollywood” Brown.
Grade: C+
