Exclusive: NFL agent for Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins explains negotiations with Bengals

It was a historic day for the Cincinnati Bengals and NFL agent Rocky Arceneaux of Alliance Sports as he watched two of his clients – Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins – sign the paperwork for their massive new contract extensions.

Chase is now the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history with a new four-year deal worth $161 million including $112 million guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $40.2 million. Higgins' deal is also for four years and he gets $115 million including an average annual salary of $28.7 million with his second year fully guaranteed. Both players now rank in the top 10 of salaries for the wide receiver position.

The two stars put pen to paper for deals on Tuesday before joining the local media for a 30-minute press conference.

Following Higgins and Chase’s media session, Arceneaux gave The Enquirer an exclusive interview in which he answered specific questions about the negotiation process for each player.

Rocky Arceneaux, agent for Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, speaks with Enquirer reporter Kelsey Conway after a press conference to announce the signing of new contracts for Cincinnati Bengals wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins at Paycor Stadium in downtown Cincinnati on Tuesday, March 18, 2025. Chase becomes the new highest-paid non-quarterback player in the NFL.

Below is the full Q&A between The Enquirer's Kelsey Conway and Rocky Arceneaux

Conway: When did you feel like you could get both of these guys signed together and stay in Cincinnati?

Arceneaux: Post combine. I would think that's when I felt like it was starting to come together.

C: Can you go through the process with me for each one?

A: It was a little different. Prior to the combine, I didn't feel like there was a chance in hell to get both of them to stay in Cincinnati. And after the combine, obviously after they had tagged Tee, we had some opportunities to talk to other teams and try to position Tee in the best case scenario for him with his career going forward. And we later learned that the Bengals were declining conversations about compensation for Tee. And that's when I realized that they were more inclined to reward him instead of trading him. So, at that point, I think the structure and the tone of the negotiations took a turn for the better.

C: Why did you not think it was possible for both guys to get deals done in Cincinnati prior to the NFL scouting combine?

A: Well, prior to the combine, we talked about the franchise tag and what impact it could potentially have on Tee. And when they decided to tag him, I had assumed, because we had talked about it prior to the tag with the intent of trading. So we proceeded along those lines, and once the process started, it became clear and evident that the Bengals, like I say, it was more inclined to pay him rather than trade him.

C: Specific to Ja’Marr, can you walk me through the process from last year when you began negotiations to now?

A: Last year, it was very different because he obviously had two years left on his contract. So, I think the negotiations were at a point where both sides needed to feel like they were doing something that benefited the other side, and I think at that point it was just some inequities there. And I think the Bengals felt like they were doing us a big favor and we were doing them. And I think that's where I wouldn't say a lack of communication, but we just had different core philosophies on what was on the bill. And also, you know, Ja’Marr and I decided that it would be in our best interest to play it out, and it worked out.

C: Did it beat your expectations in terms of what you thought you would be able to get because of the season that he had?

A: Yeah, I mean, I think we had some help. Obviously, the salary cap went up. Ja’Marr had an unbelievable season. And I think, you know, the timing was right for it.

C: When did you agree to terms on the contract for Ja’Marr?

A: They were very close. But actually, Tee’s was done first, then Ja’Marr’s was done, then Tee’s was redone, if that makes any sense. But we were very close for a long time.

C:Did Myles Garrett and D.K. Metcalf’s contracts impact the deals for Tee and Ja’Marr at all?

A: Not really. I mean, not to really talk about the numbers. We were pretty much at Jamal's number from our perspective, and I want to thank Caitlin Aoki, who works with me, who did an amazing job of valuing the contracts and doing all of the analytics. And, you know, she was very much involved, but she had nailed it. I mean, our numbers in early January were exactly what he came in at.

C: The guarantees in both deals are huge because typically the Bengals don’t structure deals like this. How important was that in the negotiations?

A: Well, it was very important. And I think, you know, it would not get done without the Bengals. You know, you have to thank Katie (Blackburn) and Mike (Brown) for trusting us and having the fortitude to say, you know what, this is something we need to do. And it was very important, obviously on Tee because we felt like he was somewhat stifled from free agency, and we knew going into free agency he could get, you know, probably the first three guaranteed. So I said you're going to have to at least do two (years fully guaranteed), you know, we'll make the concession there. But with Ja’Marr, that was pretty much a non-starter with the year he had had and the career he's had to this point. But it was important for both of them. But again, you know, kudos to the Bengals for seeing it and breaking their precedent, I'm sure that was tough. And, you know, I'm sure every player from now on is going to want this. But, yeah, that's a part of it.

Cincinnati Bengals receivers Tee Higgins (left) and Ja’marr Chase laugh together during a press conference to announce the signing of new contracts for the pair at Paycor Stadium in downtown Cincinnati on Tuesday, March 18, 2025. Chase becomes the new highest-paid non-quarterback player in the NFL.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Ja'Marr Chase Tee Higgins contracts explained by agent Rocky Arceneaux

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Exclusive: NFL agent for Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins explains negotiations with Bengals

Below is the full Q&A between The Enquirer's Kelsey Conway and Rocky Arceneaux

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