Duke Tobin had hinted at this outcome.
The de facto Cincinnati Bengals general manager’s public comments at the NFL scouting combine struck one tone when discussing his receivers and another when discussing his premier pass rusher.
Wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase “is always going to be our priority,” Tobin said last week. “He’s going to end up being the No. 1-paid non-QB in the league. We’re there. Let’s get it done.”
And on Chase’s counterpart, Tee Higgins, whose contract was set to expire before the Bengals designated him with a second straight franchise tag?