Top five most valuable people for Cincinnati Bengals in 2024

The Bengals nearly made the playoffs last season with backup quarterback Jake Browning. It's up for debate whether that says more about Browning or the team around him, but Cincinnati is looking to make sure that doesn't happen again with a healthy Joe Burrow.

Here are the franchise's five most valuable people for 2024.

5. Wide receiver Tee Higgins

There was a point in the offseason where it looked like Higgins had played his last down with the Bengals.

The 25-year-old requested a trade in March after being placed with the franchise tag and revealing that the team had not had any talks about a long-term contract extension in about a year.

Higgins has since rescinded his request, but it's looking very likely that the 2024 season will be his last in Cincinnati, which means this could be the team's best shot at winning a Super Bowl.

Higgins has 257 catches for 3,684 yards and 24 touchdowns since entering the league as the No. 33 overall pick in 2020.

4. Left tackle Orlando Brown Jr.

Burrow is coming off the second season-ending injury of his four-year NFL career. So the top priority must be to keep him upright and that starts with his blindside.

The Bengals brought in Brown last offseason on a four-year, $64 million contract to protect just that, but he was not good enough, allowing seven sacks, per Pro Football Focus .

Now with a full offseason to acclimate with his teammates, Brown must return to being the player he was when he helped quarterback Patrick Mahomes stay healthy and the Kansas City Chiefs win Super Bowl LVII. At least that's what Burrow is hoping.

3. Edge-rusher Trey Hendrickson

Every team is constantly looking for an elite pass-rusher and that's exactly what Hendrickson was last season, recording the second-most sacks (17.5) in the NFL.

That's why it was head-scratching that Cincinnati was unwilling to give him the long-term commitment he was looking for this offseason without guaranteed money attached to the final two years of his current deal.

The 29-year-old requested a trade , but the team responded that it had " zero interest " in trading him and he has since reported to training camp.

It's quite impressive that the Bengals were able to dodge both trade requests this offseason, but like Higgins, if Hendrickson has an impressive 2024 campaign, it could be his last with the team, putting even more emphasis on this season.

2. Wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase

Chase is arguably a top-three wide receiver in the NFL. He has amassed 268 catches for 3,717 yards and 29 touchdowns since being selected with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.

What makes him so valuable is that he's due just $1.055M in base salary this year. Chase wants that to change, and it will, but when is the question.

Owner Mike Brown recently indicated that he doesn't see a new contract for Chase coming anytime soon.

"This may take a while," Brown said , via Cincinnati Bengals Talk. "It's not so likely that this is the good time to negotiate. The offseason is a better time for that. We're gonna try to keep focused on the football part. I'm not gonna rule anything out, but I will tell you the die has probably been cast."

That's quite the gamble because if Cincinnati won't pay Chase, someone else will.

1. Quarterback Joe Burrow

When healthy, Burrow is one of the best quarterbacks in the league, throwing for 14,083 yards and 97 touchdowns across 52 games. The Bengals agree, too, after making him the highest-paid quarterback in the league in 2023.

Burrow was more than deserving after leading Cincinnati to back-to-back AFC Championship Games and a Super Bowl appearance in the first three years of his NFL career, but he has struggled to stay on the field, suffering a season-ending wrist injury last season. Burrow is ready to remind everyone just how good he is in 2024.

"If you're not out there and people aren't watching you, then there's nothing to talk about," Burrow said on "Pardon My Take." "I'm going to give people something to talk about this year. I'm excited about it."