Four Bengals Who Won’t Be On The Roster Beyond 2024
Credit: Jenna Watson/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK
The Bengals had to make some important financial decisions in the 2024 offseason, as players like DJ Reader, Jonah Williams, Tyler Boyd, and Joe Mixon now play for other teams. As Joe Burrow’s mega contract kicks in, they will have to make similar decisions in 2025. What players will likely be playing their last years in stripes this season? Let’s take a quick look.
Tee Higgins
As difficult as it is, it seems like the writing is on the wall. After Justin Jefferson received his four-year, $140 million extension on Monday, the market has been set for Ja’Marr Chase to receive an extension that’s either equal to or higher than Jefferson’s. The Vikings’ star’s contract is yet another case of the explosion of the wide receiver market over the last few seasons.
Keep piling dirt on the grave of any chance for a Bengals and Higgins extension https://t.co/ByILc8bRbr
— Goodberry (@JoeGoodberry) May 30, 2024
Higgins has openly looked to get paid as if he’s a number one receiver, but the Bengals have a superior receiver in Chase, who will be looking to break the bank next year. The Bengals giving Higgins the long-term extension he’s looking for is highly unrealistic. Fortunately for the Bengals, they have backup plans in place and have options like Jermaine Burton, Charlie Jones, and Andrei Iosivas if Higgins does depart.
BJ Hill
Make no mistake about it, BJ Hill has been a revelation for the Bengals on their defensive line. In the three seasons since he was acquired from the New York Giants for 2018 first-rounder Billy Price, the 69th overall pick from 2017 has produced 154 combined tackles and 12.5 sacks, tossing in a couple of interceptions for the hell of it.
That's a BJ Hill Interception in the second straight week!
BEND BUT DONT BREAK pic.twitter.com/rRWwhNeIBL
— Goodberry (@JoeGoodberry) December 16, 2023
He is expected to start alongside Sheldon Rankins on a defensive front that is looking to find a new identity after they lost DJ Reader to Detroit. He should also provide guidance to draftees Kris Jenkins and McKinnley Jackson.
However, he is slated to make nearly $11 million in the final year of his contract, and he will be on the wrong side of 30 in 2025. After the selections of defensive tackles Jenkins and Jackson in this year’s draft, the Bengals may opt to go younger and cheaper on their defensive line by cutting ties with the expensive, aging veteran.
Mike Hilton
Speaking of players who are on the wrong side of 30, Mike Hilton has also had a steady career playing in stripes. In 2021, he made everyone in Cincinnati swoon simultaneously after he pick-sixed Ben Roethlisberger during a blowout win over the Steelers.
Hilton has been a reliable nickel cornerback ever since. In 2023, he logged career-highs in games started (13) and tackles (82). However, the Bengals have heavily invested in their secondary in the draft over the last several years with the selections of players like Cam Taylor-Britt, DJ Turner, and 2024 rookie Josh Newton.
Hilton is entering the final year of his 4 year, $24 million deal that he signed three calendar years ago. It would be a shock if the Bengals, who are looking to get younger, hold on to him.
Jackson Carman
The tenure of Jackson Carman in Cincinnati has been nothing but an abject failure. The second-round pick from 2021 failed to win starting spots on the offensive line despite multiple clear shots at one. Carman lost positional battles to Cordell Volson at left guard in 2022 and Jonah Williams at right tackle in 2023. He even failed to garner any significant playing time altogether last season, with just 13 total snaps over two games in 2023. It’s not great to be a healthy scratch for 29 of the last 34 games, even if he is still only 23-years-old.
I like how as Bengals fans, we’ve collectively just given up on the Jackson Carman thing.
He’s a healthy scratch all the time. We don’t talk about it. We just root for the progression of Cordell Volson.
— Drew Garrison (@DrewGarrison) October 19, 2022
Carman, who has dealt with both on and off-the-field issues since entering the league, has been relegated to the bench behind Orlando Brown on the left side of the offensive line.
The Bengals addressed the future of their offensive line in this year’s draft by taking Amarius Mims at 18 overall to be the right tackle of the future. As Carman enters the final year of his rookie contract, the Bengals likely have very little reason to keep him around after this season.
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