Ja’Marr Chase, the standout wide receiver for the Cincinnati Bengals, will resume contract negotiations with the team as he enters the final year of his rookie contract. Although there were discussions about a long-term extension before the season, Chase rejected the Bengals’ most recent offer, citing “cash flow” concerns related to the structure of the deal. Bengals’ director of personnel, Duke Tobin, provided an update on the situation at the Senior Bowl, stating that a contract extension for Chase is a priority for the team and that there is a framework in place for an agreement. Tobin emphasized that recent extensions for wide receivers like Justin Jefferson of the Minnesota Vikings and CeeDee Lamb of the Dallas Cowboys serve as benchmarks for Chase’s potential contract. Jefferson’s four-year deal, worth $140 million with $110 million guaranteed, and Lamb’s $136 million extension with $100 million guaranteed, are likely to set the stage for Chase to secure a deal that could surpass these figures, making him the highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL.
Chase, 24, was a dominant player at LSU before being selected by the Bengals with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. After sitting out the 2020 college football season due to the pandemic, he returned to the NFL with a remarkable impact. Currently in the fourth year of a four-year, $30.8 million contract with the Bengals, which includes a $19.8 million signing bonus, Chase is set to have his fifth-year option picked up for the 2025 season, valued at $21.8 million. In the 2024 season, Chase had a stellar performance, playing in all 17 games and recording 127 receptions for 1,708 yards and 17 touchdowns, solidifying his status as one of the league’s top wide receivers. As Chase heads into what could be his final season on his rookie contract, the Bengals are under pressure to finalize a deal that rewards him for his exceptional talent and secures his future with the team.
