Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase became eligible for a contract extension this offseason, which has many wondering if he will hold out for a new deal.
Chase did not participate in Bengals organized team activities, and his status for the club's mandatory minicamp—which begins next week—is currently up in the air.
Head coach Zac Taylor provided a brief update on Chase this week, but he didn't go into detail about whether or not he expected Chase to show up for camp.
“I’ve talked with Ja’Marr,” Taylor said, via WCPO 9. “I won’t get into our conversations, but we’ve had great dialogue.”
Chase is one of two key Cincinnati receivers embroiled in a contract dispute with the team. Tee Higgins was also not present at voluntary workouts because he is yet to sign his franchise tender, meaning he is not eligible to participate in any of the Bengals' offseason activities.
Cincinnati slapped a franchise tag on Higgins earlier this offseason, which resulted in Higgins asking for a trade. Higgins later said he expects to be in Cincy for 2024, but until he signs on the dotted line, that is all just lip service for now.
Of course, as good as Higgins is, Chase is the Bengals' top priority, as he is their No. 1 receiver. That explains why Cincinnati apparently hasn't held serious talks with Higgins for a while.
The Bengals may have to pay up for Ja'Marr Chase
The wide receiver market has been in a frenzy this offseason, as a plethora of wide outs have landed massive contract extensions. The biggest example is Minnesota Vikings star Justin Jefferson, who just inked a four-year, $140 million deal, making him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history.
Will Chase get paid like Jefferson, his former LSU teammate? Probably not, but he can certainly expect to land a deal worth in excess of $30 million annually.
Right now, Philadelphia Eagles stud A.J. Brown is the second-most expensive receiver in the league behind Jefferson, as he signed a three-year, $96 million extension earlier this offseason. That puts Brown at $32 million per year, and Chase will likely shoot for that number or greater.
Of course, Chase is still under contract for two more years after having his fifth-year option exercised, so, in theory, the Bengals do not have to give him a new deal now. However, for the harmony of the team, Cincinnati may be better off just getting Chase's deal out of the way now. The Bengals have the cap room for it, and it would ensure that Chase remains with the club for the long haul.
The problem is that a new contract for Chase would mean Higgins would almost certainly be gone after next season. Cincinnati is already paying Joe Burrow $55 million annually, so it seems unlikely that the club would want to pay big bucks for two receivers.
Chase is coming off of a 2023 campaign in which he hauled in 100 receptions for 1,216 yards and seven touchdowns en route to his third straight Pro Bowl appearance. His best season to date actually came during his rookie year in 2021, when he caught 81 passes for 1,455 yards and 13 scores.
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