When a team has good players, those players eventually need to be paid — or replaced with younger, cheaper players. The Bengals, who have gone plenty of years over the decades without good players, now have plenty of good players.

Mixon played his first seven NFL seasons ... Earlier this month, Watt said a team with Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase and Trey Hendrickson not making the playoffs is mind-blowing.

The Cincinnati Bengals and All-Pro wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase enter another offseason of intense contract negotiations. After not being able to agree on a new deal ahead of last season, the Bengals and Chase will now resume negotiations. Chase is entering the final year of his rookie deal with the Bengals.

The Bengals have a generational talent at quarterback. Joe Burrow has publicly campaigned to keep his favorite targets in the fold. He’s even hinted at modifying his contract so Chase and Higgins can stay.

On one hand, Burrow is getting $55 million per year. On the other hand, he might have to watch more than a few quality teammates come and go as the Bengals struggle to put enough talent around him to get the Bengals the first Super Bowl win in franchise history.