Latest On Negotiations Between Bengals, WR Ja’Marr Chase

CeeDee Lamb‘s Cowboys holdout and Brandon Aiyuk‘s 49ers hold-in have both come to an end. Extension agreements have brought the wideouts back to their respective teams in advance of Week 1, turning attention to Ja’Marr Chase and the Bengals.

The 2021 Offensive Rookie of the Year has been eligible to sign a second contract throughout the offseason, one in which several big-ticket receiver extensions have been worked out. Chase’s former LSU teammate Justin Jefferson reset the market with a Vikings deal averaging $35MM per season. That pact includes nearly $89MM guaranteed, a figure which created a major gulf in terms of locked in compensation compared to Tyreek Hill‘s revised Dolphins contract. Lamb’s deal bridged the gap ($34MM AAV, $67MM guaranteed at signing), and it could pave the way for progress between Chase and the Bengals.

The 24-year-old’s camp slow-played negotiations earlier this summer in the view of the team, SI’s Albert Breer notes. Chase understandably waited until Jefferson’s agreement was in place, and while talks have taken place recently, nothing has appeared imminent. The fact that Lamb and Aiyuk have both worked out deals offers further clarity on the receiver market moving forward. While Chase is on the books for two more years, he is the Bengals’ top financial priority. Both team and player have been linked to waiting until next offseason to work out a deal, though.

Chase is healthy, but after skipping voluntary OTAs and attending mandatory minicamp, he has practiced on an infrequent basis during training camp. Head coach Zac Taylor said three-time Pro Bowler would be in place for Week 1, but he has since conceded this situation is evolving on a day-to-day basis. A new effort has been made by Cincinnati’s front office to hammer out an extension with Week 1 looming as an artificial deadline. The sides could reach an eleventh-hour agreement, but the absence of one would likely lead to extension talks being delayed until next spring.

With three 1,000-yard seasons on his resume (despite missing five games in 2022), Chase is positioned to become of the league’s top earners at the receiver spot. Some around the league think moving him to the top of the pecking order will be necessary, an investment which would be particularly notable given the Bengals’ reputation for frugality. The team broke with tradition in committing guaranteed money beyond Year 1 for quarterback Joe Burrow, and the same will be necessary in Chase’s case regardless of where his deal ends up in terms of annual value.

Cincinnati’s regular season (expected to be the final one with franchise tag recipient Tee Higgins in the fold) begins on Sunday. Whether or not Chase practices again between now and then could depend on the status of contract talks, something which no longer involves waiting on comparable situations to be sorted out.