The Bengals’ contract approach in 2024-25 shows they march to their own drum. Ja’Marr Chase’s extension wound up costing more than a September offer would have, after a triple‑crown season, while Trey Hendrickson’s deal was restructured to keep guarantees year by year. Cincinnati locked in Burrow’s top targets and key stalwarts on their own terms, a move that preserves flexibility but raises questions about future cap. The plan kept Chase, Hendrickson, Higgins, and Gesicki in the fold, and Burrow remains the centerpiece of a high‑ceiling offense.

For fantasy, the news is mostly bullish: Chase and Higgins stay anchor receivers, Gesicki adds an intriguing TE facet, and Hendrickson’s year‑to‑year structure supports a productive 2025 prove‑it season. The Bengals’ 2025 outlook looks leaner in guarantees but richer in on‑field alignment, making Cincinnati a plausible Super Bowl contender again if Burrow stays healthy and the pass rush clicks, with Hendrickson driving the edge and Chase delivering elite fantasy totals.