As most fans could reasonably guess, the Cincinnati Bengals have again firmly involved Joe Burrow in the offseason process.
That includes looping in Burrow on major offseason items on the to-do list such as possible extensions for Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins and even Trey Hendrickson.
This week, Bengals director of player personnel Duke Tobin told the Cincinnati Enquirer’s Kelsey Conway at the scouting combine that he has already met with Burrow about the offseason plan.
Conway added this: “They have an honest conversation about what can/can’t be done. Now we wait and see who stays and who goes.”
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Burrow has implied as much in the past, but it feels especially notable to point this out right now.
Burrow, after all, had been adamant across most of his public interviews near the end of the season about wanting Higgins back in the fold. So, his conversations with the team have undoubtedly focused on the possibility of keeping both Chase and Higgins long-term.
Reporting around the time of Burrow’s repeated Higgins comments suggested the Big 3 had all been plotting out a way to stay together, too.
For various reasons already outlined, the Bengals have the cap room and reason to extend both star wideouts this offseason. Whether that was plotted out to Burrow in discussions is interesting to consider, to say the least.