Oh! What a surprise the Bengals are signing defenders. Maybe they saw all the memes on X where fans were asking Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins to start training as defenders—after the Bengals front office dumped $276M on their extensions. That might have prompted them to start adding some defenders, too.

I mean, of course, it’s awesome that the Bengals were able to keep both Chase and Higgins. But breaking the bank and making them the highest-paid WR1 and WR2 had the potential to affect the Bengals’ defensive plans. However, it seems they still have plenty of room and lots of cash lying around as they bring a reigning Super Bowl Champion to the Jungle.

Who Dey Nation has just announced the arrival of 8-year veteran LB Oren Burks on a reported $5M contract. In simple words, it’s a huge bargain for Cincinnati as Burks was excellent as a make-shift in Philly’s defense. See, he might have made two starts in the regular season, playing only 14% of the Eagles’ defensive snaps. But the moment Nakobe Dean got injured, Burks filled his shoes admirably.

He stood out the most during the Eagles Super Bowl run in the playoffs. Playing all 4 postseason games, Burks recorded 25 tackles, two FFs, and 1 sack. And you know what makes him more special? Burks has a lot of special teams experience, too, and can easily fill up the void left by the departure of Akeem Davis-Gaither to the Cardinals.

As for the Bengals, they might have struck gold in Burk if you take a look at his total tackles. Like he has 127 total tackles in his whole NFL career. I mean, it’s a great statistic. But you know what’s greater? His success rate with total tackles.

Burks has missed three total tackles in the last three seasons, as per Pro Football Reference. And the fact that Bengals were one of the worst tackling teams in the NFL last season, Burks is surely going to give them a much-needed improvement in that department. Still 4 days to 30, Burks can do a lot in Cincinnati if given the role of a starter, unlike his stint in Philly.

But since we are still on the subject of signing players. The Bengals really are on a roll, aren’t they? I mean, tying up the future of Chase and Higgins after getting called out repeatedly—that, too, in some style, needs to be talked about, right?

Bengals go above and beyond to keep Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins

On Sunday, the Bengals finally put an end to years of negotiations surrounding the long-term future of Chase and Higgins. Both of them told Fox Sports they agreed to a mammoth 4-year contract extension worth $276M combined. Coming off a triple crown year that saw Chase lead the league in receiving yards (1,708), receptions (127) and TDs (17). He was always going to be a priority for the Bengals. I mean, their director of player personnel, Duke Tobin, had already teased what was coming, “He’s going to end up being the No.1 paid non-quarterback in the league. We’re there. Let’s get it done.”

And Tobin actually kept his word, you know. After becoming just the 6th receiving in the Super Bowl era to record a triple crown year, they have made him the highest-paid non-QB ever deservedly. His $161M contract extension with $112M guaranteed eclipses Browns pass rusher Myles Garrett’s $40M per year deal offered to him a few weeks ago. Not only Garrett—Chase’s contract now makes him $5M more per season than Justin Jefferson’s $35M per year contract. And the Bengals didn’t stop there.

Once, Chase was made the highest-paid WR1 in NFL history. They thought, why compromise with their WR2? Higgins was also rewarded with a 4-year, $115M contract that makes him the highest-paid WR2 ever. Simply bonkers!!! But like Chase, Higgins also deserved what he got. He stood 6th in the league with 10 TD catches last season while also having 73 receptions for 911 yards. So, obviously, the Bengals had to do something extraordinary to keep their star receivers in the Jungle for the foreseeable future.

Offense might be sorted. But Burks’ arrival doesn’t mean their defense is sorted too. It could be if the Bengals do one last thing. Give their NFL sack leader, Trey Hendrickson, an extension and keep their core group intact. And who knows, maybe it could be enough for them to conjure another Super Bowl run since their heartbreak in LA.