Ja’Marr Chase

Contract Details For Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins

March 23rd, 2025 at 11:04pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

Tee Higgins parted ways with his agent towards the end of his contract year in 2024, raising eyebrows around the NFL.

Those eyebrows went even higher after Higgins signed with the same representation as fellow Bengals wideout Ja’Marr Chase. Four months later, Higgins and Chase both signed lucrative contracts to stay together with Joe Burrow in Cincinnati for the long-term.

“It was something that came together pretty quickly,” said FOX Sports’ Jordan Schultz, who first broke news of the dual extensions. “The plan was always to get both done together.”

The Bengals were unable to reach a long-term agreement with Higgins last offseason, resulting in a franchise tag for the 2024 season. Over the last year, the team was also engaged in negotiations with Chase to make him the highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL. Once both players were represented by the same agency, it became clear that they were a package deal.

“It wasn’t one or the other,” explained Schultz. That gave the two receivers plenty of leverage to force concessions from Cincinnati, who ultimately obliged with a stronger guarantee structure than their previous non-quarterback contracts.

“The Bengals broke a lot of precedent,” Schultz continued. “It’s not something they’ve ever done other than Joe Burrow.”

Higgins still didn’t receive a WR1 salary, but he was willing to take less money than he would’ve earned on the open market to stay in Cincinnati. “He wanted to be a Bengal,” said Schultz. “Tee Higgins wanted to run it back with Ja’Marr Chase and Joe Burrow.”

Chase was entering 2025 on his fifth-year option, so his four-year, $161MM extension will keep him in Cincinnati through 2029. The total guaranteed money is $109.8MM, per Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio, with $73.8MM guaranteed at signing.

The deal contains a $22MM signing bonus and a $10MM roster bonus, as well as $1MM in per-game roster bonuses and $100k in workout bonuses in each year of the deal that are fully-guaranteed in 2025. Combined with his fully-guaranteed 2025 salary of $8.07MM, Chase’s first-year cash flow can reach $41.17MM. His $17.73MM salary and $15MM option bonus in 2026 are also fully-guaranteed, with void years in 2030 and 2031 to prorate those bonuses.

If Chase is on the roster on the fifth day of the 2026 league year, his per-game and workout bonuses for 2026 and 2027 will become fully-guaranteed, along with his $23.9MM salary and $5MM roster bonus in 2027. If he is on the roster on the fifth day of the 2027 league year, $7MM of his $31.8MM 2028 salary will become fully-guaranteed. The contract also contains a $250k incentive in each year that can be earned if Chase plays 65% of the Bengals’ offensive snaps and the team wins the Super Bowl.

Higgins was set to earn $26.2MM in 2025 after being tagged for the second season in a row. His new contract is worth $115MM over four years for a $28.75MM APY that ranks ninth at his position. The only fully-guaranteed money at signing is a $10MM roster bonus in 2026, per Florio, though a $20MM roster bonus in 2025 was due five days after signing, making it practically guaranteed. The deal also contains $2MM in per-game roster bonuses and $100k in workout bonuses in each year.

Higgins is due a $13.8MM salary in 2025, bringing his first-year cash flow to $35.9MM. His 2026 salary of $10.9MM becomes fully-guaranteed on the fifth day of the 2026 league year, but the remainder of his compensation is not guaranteed. That includes a base salary of $19.2MM and a roster bonus of $5MM in 2027 and a base salary of $27.3MM in 2026.

The contract also includes incentives for playing time and postseason success. If Higgins plays 65% of the Bengals’ offensive snaps and the team makes the Super Bowl, he will earn $1MM. If he reaches the same playing time and the Bengals win the Super Bowl, he will earn $1.7MM.

Bengals Reach Extensions With WRs Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins

March 16th, 2025 at 9:56pm CST by Ely Allen

It appears the Bengals have made good on recent rumblings as Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports reports that Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins exclusively informed him that they’ve agreed to contract extensions to stay with their team.

Schultz reports that Chase will receive a four-year, $161MM extension with $112MM guaranteed, while Higgins’ deal is for four years and $115MM. The first two years of Higgins’ contract — an undisclosed amount, at the moment — will be guaranteed, as well. The early predictions of the two’s contracts combining to eclipse $70MM per year is not quite accurate, as they appear to combine to equal $69MM per year.

Chase’s deal surpasses that of Browns defensive end Myles Garrett, making him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history. Higgins’ contract reportedly makes him the highest-paid WR2 in NFL history, surpassing Miami’s Jaylen Waddle. While Higgins would move up two spots from the 10th-highest paid receiver in the league to the eighth-highest, Chase’s catapult up to the top of the list moves him back down to the ninth-highest paid receiver in the NFL. Only the Dolphins (Tyreek Hill & Waddle) match them with two in the top 10, and the Commanders (Deebo Samuel & Terry McLaurin) and the Buccaneers (Chris Godwin & Mike Evans) join with two in the top 20.

We saw major progress as this week started with Chase and Cincinnati far apart on extension terms before producing “significant progress” two days ago. Chase had turned down a Bengals offer this year, but after the team was unable to extend him before the 2024 season, the market shifted quite a bit. After the Raiders eclipsed Justin Jefferson‘s previous non-QB AAV mark by paying Maxx Crosby $35.5MM per year, the Browns gave Myles Garrett a whopping $40MM per annum to back off his trade request. By getting these signings of Chase and Higgins done, the Bengals avoid the price driving up even more, as T.J. Watt, Micah Parsons, and Aidan Hutchinson could all adjust that number again this offseason.

Once the exact numbers and structure come through, we should become aware of just how much the Bengals’ cap situation has improved — and it should be a significant improvement. Cincinnati was sitting at just over $26MM in cap space before these two deals transpired. Higgins’ $26.2MM franchise tag cap hit should disappear, as should Chase’s $21.8MM fifth-year option cap hit; both will be replaced with new, much lower cap numbers that will rise in the later years of their new contracts.

By securing Chase and Higgins for another four years, Cincinnati has locked down a receiving duo that has combined for 658 catches for 9,112 yards and 74 touchdowns over the past four years. During the time the two have played together, they have combined to account for 44 percent of quarterback Joe Burrow‘s completions, 56 percent of Burrow’s yardage, and 58 percent of his touchdowns. With Burrow locked in through the 2029 season, as well, the potent Bengals offense doesn’t appear to be going anywhere.

And Cincinnati better hope that their prolific offense continues to produce. A big reason why the Bengals failed to make the postseason in 2024, despite Burrow leading the league in completions, passing yards, and passing touchdowns and Chase winning the receiving Triple Crown, was a defense that ranked 26th is points per game and 25th in yards per game.

While Chase and Higgins are celebrating their new extensions, star pass rusher Trey Hendrickson continues to reside in limbo waiting for any developments on his extension or trade potential. Cincinnati reportedly wants at least a first-round pick for the 30-year-old pass rusher and perhaps more, though rival execs view that ask as “ridiculous.”

Hendrickson’s issues with his contract situation date back to a trade request a year ago, similar to Higgins. Higgins made the savvy move of dropping his representation and pairing up under Chase’s agency, making it clear that a Chase deal was not possible without a Higgins deal, as well. Hendrickson, on the other hand, seems to have been left in the cold here, as the extensions reported today will make it extremely difficult for Cincinnati to give a long-term pact to him, as well.

Regardless, Bengals fans can let out a long sigh of relief knowing that Chase, Higgins, and Burrow will be around to continue putting up record offensive numbers in the years to come. Whether dedicating $124MM per year to three offensive players will ultimately handicap a team desperately needing to improve on defense is to be determined. For now, though, Cincinnati can take pride in being sure it’s done what it can to make its stars happy.

Bengals Progressing On Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins Extensions

March 14th, 2025 at 11:00pm CST by Sam Robinson

No longer appearing likely to extend Ja’Marr Chase and split with Tee Higgins, the Bengals have seen their updated plan — one featuring a hopeful long-term Higgins future in Cincinnati — produce notable progress.

After a report earlier this week indicated Higgins and the Bengals were still far apart, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports the team has made “significant progress” on extensions for both Chase and Higgins. As Trey Hendrickson resides in limbo because of the team’s renewed Higgins interest, Cincy could have deals done with its longtime WR pair soon.

Nothing is developing on the Hendrickson trade front, per KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson, who adds no contract adjustment appears imminent, either. This may be the cost of doing business for the Bengals, who have set a clear hierarchy that places Higgins above Hendrickson in the contract queue. Hendrickson has been given permission to seek a trade, giving Cincinnati a major hole to fill if a deal comes together.

Meanwhile, however, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini adds the Chase and Higgins contracts should combine to reach or surpass $70MM per year. This seemed like a scenario the Bengals wanted to avoid as recently as January, when Duke Tobin said a Higgins extension would have to come at the “right number.” But Cincy re-tagged Higgins, as Joe Burrow ramped up pressure on the organization to keep the duo together. The Bengals will need to pay their duo more than the Dolphins and Eagles did their impact tandems.

It is worth wondering if this would be the best way for the Bengals to invest, especially considering just about everything had pointed to the team moving on from Higgins in 2025. The Bengals have a history with a quarterback growing frustrated with its lack of aggressiveness, however, as a Carson Palmer–Mike Brown dustup ended with the former franchise QB traded in 2011. Tobin was with the Bengals at that point. The team now appears close to keeping Burrow’s troops together, likely at the cost of keeping Hendrickson.

Chase turned down a Bengals offer this year, but after the team was unable to extend him before the 2024 season, the market has shifted. Tobin said he expected Chase to be the NFL’s highest-paid non-quarterback, after his triple-crown season upped his value. But another position’s market has affected this aim. After the Raiders eclipsed Justin Jefferson‘s previous non-QB AAV mark by paying Maxx Crosby $35.5MM per year, the Browns gave Myles Garrett a whopping $40MM per annum to back off his trade request. The Bengals are in the crosshairs here, as T.J. Watt, Micah Parsons and Aidan Hutchinson could change that number again this offseason. Acting early would be in Cincy’s best interests now, though that has not exactly been a strength as of late for the team.

Garrett getting to where he did has already changed things for the Bengals, as ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports the leaguewide expectation is a deal that checks in between $40.1MM and $41MM per year. Chase would not have commanded this in 2024, but the Brown had said by training camp the Bengals were unlikely to pay their WR1 before last season. Although Chase’s hold-in applied pressure that did lead to negotiations, nothing commenced. Now recommitted to extending Higgins, the Bengals are set to authorize a monster Chase extension that will change their roster blueprint.

The Bengals sit at barely $26MM in cap space; that number would increase once the wideouts are paid. Higgins is on a $26.2MM tag number, while Chase is tied to a $21.8MM fifth-year option. This could open the door to the Bengals keeping Hendrickson, but with the 30-year-old sack kingpin in a contract year and pursuing an extension, Cincinnati attempting to keep Hendrickson without extending him would not go over well with a player coming off back-to-back 17.5-sack seasons.

The receivers are the priority, however, and Higgins can expect to score a deal north of $30MM per year. D.K. Metcalf having just agreed toa a $33MM-per-year Seahawks payday could pertain to Higgins, and the Bengals are almost definitely going to need to deviate from their policy of not guaranteeing future years to non-quarterbacks in order to move the Chase and Higgins contracts past the finish line. But the extension sagas involving Cincinnati’s receivers look to finally be nearing an end.

Bengals Have Submitted Ja’Marr Chase Extension Offer; Sides Not Close To Deal?

March 1st, 2025 at 10:42pm CST by Adam La Rose

The possibility loomed last offseason that Ja’Marr Chase would sign an extension making him the highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL. The Bengals are well aware of the fact that will be required this time around to secure his future beyond 2025.

De facto general manager Duke Tobin said at the Combine earlier this week Cincinnati is prepared to authorize a deal which will move Chase to the top of the receiver pecking order. Doing so will require surpassing Justin Jefferson‘s Vikings extension signed last offseason ($35MM per year). An asking price of $40MM annually has been floated, although it remains to be seen where team and player stand with respect to finances at this stage of negotiations.

On that note, Dianna Russini of The Athletic writes an offer has been made to Chase’s camp (subscription required). Notably, though, she adds the sides are not close to an agreement at this point. The Bengals’ offseason to-do list includes not only working out a monster deal with Chase, of course, but also finding a resolution with fellow receiver Tee Higgins along with granting edge rusher Trey Hendrickson a raise.

Higgins is expected to receive the franchise tag for the second year in a row, something which will buy the Bengals time to work on a multi-year pact. Hendrickson requested a trade last year in the wake of his unsuccessful attempts to land a lucrative extension, and he would again be onboard with a deal sending him elsewhere if it resulted in a raise ahead of 2025. Tobin and the team remain confident agreements can be reached on all three fronts, but ensuring Chase is in place for the foreseeable future represents an obvious objective.

The 25-year-old won the ‘Triple Crown’ in 2024 by leading the NFL in receptions, yards and touchdowns. Chase could easily command a deal allowing him to join the six-man group of receivers averaging at least $30MM per season on his second contract as a result, but a larger-than-expected spike in the salary cap could help his cause even further. Quarterback Joe Burrow has been vocal about signing his former LSU teammate to a new pact but also managing to keep Higgins and Hendrickson in the fold.

The Bengals currently have roughly $61.5MM in cap space, a portion of which will be needed for a new Chase pact (although since his fifth-year option was picked up last spring, he is already on the books for 2025 at $21.82MM). A partial training camp holdout took place in this situation last summer with no deal being reached; plenty of time remains before such a scenario could come into play again, but progress will nevertheless apparently need to be made at the negotiating table.

Bengals Prepared To Make Ja’Marr Chase NFL’s Highest-Paid Non-QB

February 25th, 2025 at 11:08pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Bengals were unable to work out an extension agreement with Ja’Marr Chase last offseason, and the decision to use the franchise tag on Tee Higgins led to doubt about his future beyond 2024. In the case of both receivers, the team remains intent on inking both to long-term deals.

Chase in particular will require an historic investment in the wake of Justin Jefferson resetting the market for non-quarterbacks last year. Chase’s LSU teammate secured $35MM per year on average from the Vikings, but a new Bengals deal will check in at a higher rate. Coming off the back of a triple-crown season, Chase has been connected to an asking price of $40MM per season.

In spite of the organization’s track record regarding massive player investments, reaching an agreement at least in the vicinity of that figure is the target. De facto general manager Duke Tobin said on Tuesday (via ESPN’s Adam Schefter) the Bengals are planning to “reward” Chase by making him the highest-paid non-QB in NFL history. Head coach Zac Taylor echoed that sentiment when speaking to the media (h/t Kelsey Conway of the Cincinnati Enquirer).

As Joe Burrow has turned up the heat on the franchise regarding doing what it takes to retain Higgins and Trey Hendrickson, Tobin has offered some support that the QB will see a positive outcome here. The longtime Bengals exec said (via The Athletic’s Paul Dehner Jr.) he is optimistic extensions for all three are doable.

The Bengals are paying for delaying the Chase deal, as the hesitancy — a delay not shown by the Eagles and Dolphins with first-rounders DeVonta Smith and Jaylen Waddle — preceded a price-raising season from the 2021 fifth overall pick. Miami and Philly became the first teams — in the fifth-year option era — to extend a first-round wideout with two years of rookie-deal control remaining. Mike Brown said early in training camp the Bengals were unlikely to follow suit. Although the team was believed to have come close to extending Chase before last season, not doing so will lead to a bigger payment being required. While surpassing Jefferson’s $35MM AAV is one matter, a team not known for post-Year 1 guarantees going past the $88.7MM the Vikings fully guaranteed their All-Pro wideout is another.

Regarding Higgins, the Bengals paying him would contradict a years-long expectation. Higgins had been expected to depart, via free agency defection or tag-and-trade transaction, for a while. Last month, Tobin said the team would aim to re-sign Higgins at the “right number.” It would seem Burrow’s efforts, years after Carson Palmer forced his way out due to frustration with the organization’s transactional aggressiveness, are not going unnoticed in the Cincinnati building.

Hendrickson is eyeing a lucrative fourth contract, after tacking a one-year extension onto his initial Bengals agreement, and would be OK if it came after a trade. The All-Pro defensive end wants a quick resolution, however. Like Chase, one season remains on Hendrickson’s deal. For all the criticisms lobbed the Bengals’ way regarding contract matters, they do have a recent history of authorizing third contracts for D-linemen. They paid both Geno Atkins and Carlos Dunlap in 2018. Of course, paying Hendrickson with Burrow tied to a $55MM-per-year deal is a different matter even with the recent cap spikes considered.

As we detailed in a recent Trade Rumors Front Office piece, how the Bengals proceed this offseason may well affect their long-term relationship with Burrow. The superstar QB will undoubtedly be monitoring these situations closely, with the Higgins matter — expected to produce at least a placeholder franchise tag — first on the docket.

Sam Robinson contributed to this post.

Ja’Marr Chase Eyeing $40MM AAV

February 19th, 2025 at 9:44pm CST by Ben Levine

Ja’Marr Chase was already expected to reset the wide receiver market when he inks his next contract. However, it’s sounding like the Bengals star could soar past the field.

According to Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports, Chase is expected to command at least $40MM per year on his next deal. This average annual value would easily put the WR atop his position, and it would even rival some QB contracts.

It was less than a year ago that the top of the wide receiver market settled in at a $30MM AAV, with Justin Jefferson, CeeDee Lamb, A.J. Brown, Amon-Ra St. Brown, and Brandon Aiyuk joining Tyreek Hill at that milestone. Jefferson ended up earning the highest average of the bunch, as his four-year extension came in at $35MM per year. At the time, it was expected that Chase’s next deal would approach or slightly top that pact, but it’s now sounding like the Bengals WR has his eyes set on an even larger pay day.

Jefferson currently leads all non-QBs in AAV, with the $30MM-plus group also consisting of a handful of defenders (including Nick Bosa and Chris Jones). Chase’s targeted $40MM AAV would place him tied for 15th in the entire league, with that number matching Matthew Stafford‘s annual earnings and topping the likes of Baker Mayfield, Aaron Rodgers, and Derek Carr.

While both Chase and the Bengals made some progress on extension talks last offseason, they couldn’t agree to a deal before their self-imposed deadline of Week 1. The two sides did not engage in contract talks during the 2024 campaign, and there’s now a bit more urgency with Chase entering the final season of his rookie contract. While the organization has made it clear all along that they’re prioritizing a new deal for the star wideout, that may be easier said than done.

In addition to Joe Burrow‘s once-record-breaking deal, the Bengals are also navigating Tee Higgins‘ impending free agency. A recent report indicated that the front office was planning to hit Higgins with the franchise tag for a second-straight offseason, a move that would lock them into a relatively affordable $26.2MM commitment for the 2025 campaign. The Bengals could also hit Chase with the franchise tag in 2026 and 2027, which would buy the organization even more time to figure out their financials.

While there’s a chance the Bengals just look to roll with their star trio for one more season, there have been genuine rumblings that they’re trying to keep all three players for the long haul. In that case, Burrow, Chase, and Higgins would cost the team at least $120MM per season, even if the QB is willing to hand back some money.

Bengals Seeking Long-Term Deals For Ja’Marr Chase, Trey Hendrickson

February 18th, 2025 at 10:06pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Bengals’ 2025 offseason will be defined by their ability to maintain as many core players as possible. A notable first step was foreshadowed yesterday when it was learned wideout Tee Higgins is expected to receive the franchise tag for the second year in a row.

Higgins was on track to be (by far) the most sought-after receiver in free agency, but the tag will prevent him from hitting the market. A long-term deal is the goal for Cincinnati, and presuming the tag is applied by the March 4 deadline team and player will have until mid-July to work out an agreement. Committing to a notable Higgins raise will be challenging given the contract statuses of Ja’Marr Chase and Trey Hendrickson, but keeping all three in place is the team’s goal.

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler and Ben Baby report the Bengals aim to sign Chase and Hendrickson to long-term deals in addition to a new Higgins accord. Doing so would ensure stability at the receiver position and along the edge on defense, and it would certainly satisfy quarterback Joe Burrow‘s wishes. When speaking about the financial challenge Cincinnati faces this offseason, Burrow made it clear he would be willing to restructure his pact to free up cap space if necessary.

Negotiations with Chase took place throughout the 2024 offseason, and the team made it clear working out a monster extension was a priority. Waiting until 2025 increasingly seemed to be necessary, however, especially once Chase’s actions at training camp (which at times included holding in) did not yield a last-minute deal. To no surprise, the Bengals did not engage in contract talks with the former Offensive Rookie of the Year during the 2024 campaign.

Chase’s value was not in question entering the season, but if anything his performance upped his leverage at the negotiating table. The soon-to-be 25-year-old set new career highs across the board, topping the NFL in receptions (127), yards (1,708) and touchdowns (17). Coupled with the annual jump in the NFL’s salary cap, Chase has a clear case to surpass former LSU teammate Justin Jefferson as the league’s highest-paid receiver ($35MM per year).

That figure doubles as the high point for any non-quarterback contract as things stand. That could change this offseason, though, in no small part due to the potential for the edge rush market to take a notable step forward. Myles Garrett is in line for a new Browns pact or one which he will sign upon arriving via trade with a new team. T.J. Watt is among the veterans who could be extended at the position, meaning a Steelers raise could be in order. Micah Parsons‘ pending second contract, meanwhile, is the Cowboys’ top priority, and he could reset the market based on his age.

Nick Bosa‘s $34MM per season stands as the highest AAV in NFL history to a pass rusher, but that pact could be surpassed shortly. Despite Hendrickson’s age (30), he is in line to greatly benefit from the position’s upward movement on a new deal. The former Saint has racked up 57 sacks since signing as a free agent in 2021, including a league-leading 17.5 in 2024. Efforts to secure a raise last spring were unsuccessful, and Hendrickson’s resultant trade request was ignored by the Bengals.

With the parties in a similar situation this time around, de facto general manager Duke Tobin made it clear he is aware a lucrative new pact will be needed to keep Hendrickson in the fold. The four-time Pro Bowler is due $16MM in 2025 with a scheduled cap hit of $18.67MM; a long-term accord could allow for a new round of guarantees while lowering his immediate cap charge. For his part, Hendrickson is again open to changing teams to land a new pact, so the progress of talks with the Bengals will be worth watching closely with an outside market existing for his services.

With respect to pecking order, Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic writes Chase – set to play on his fifth-year option at the moment – is still atop the team’s to-do list (subscription required). Notably, he adds other pacts (including most importantly Higgins and Hendrickson) may actually get done before Cincinnati finalizes Chase’s new deal since the term and financial details should essentially be in place already. In any event, Tobin and Co. will be tasked with negotiating on a number of in-house fronts over the coming weeks.

Bengals, WR Ja’Marr Chase Unlikely To Discuss Extension During Season

September 15th, 2024 at 10:23pm CST by Rory Parks

Last week, it was reported that the Bengals and wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase, who have been negotiating a contract extension for months, would not reach an agreement prior to the club’s regular season opener. At the time, it was still a bit unclear whether the parties could continue their talks during the season.

That now appears unlikely. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the negotiations will “probably” be tabled for the remainder of the 2024 campaign, unless the team – which is historically disinclined to hold in-season contract talks – does something to rekindle them.

Chase is apparently unwilling to restart discussions himself, with Schefter noting that the star wideout feels misled by the club. Cincinnati reportedly told Chase during his exit meeting following the 2023 season and then again at the scouting combine that a deal would get done, and the fact that he is still playing on his rookie deal while fellow 2021 draftmates Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jaylen Waddle, and DeVonta Smith have landed their second NFL contracts has left a sour taste in his mouth.

Of course, Chase is looking to top all three of those players and land a deal in Justin Jefferson territory ($35MM AAV, $88.7MM in full guarantees). Chase said shortly before the Bengals’ Week 1 matchup with the Patriots that an extension was “in reach,” but as we have noted previously, the structure and cash flow of the Bengals’ proposal was not acceptable to the No. 5 overall pick of the 2021 draft (Cincinnati generally prefers to make a signing bonus the only post-Year 1 guarantee, although quarterback Joe Burrow became an exception to that rule and, since Chase is a generational talent, the team likely will need to deviate from its traditional stance for him as well).

Chase’s decision to break off talks and play out the season without a new deal in place obviously brings the possibility of a career-altering injury undermining his earning power into play. In order to safeguard against that, Chase has taken out a $50MM insurance policy on himself, which has given him all the peace of mind he needs. As one source succinctly said of Chase: “he’s good.”

While negotiations seemed to get close to the finish line by the time the season opener rolled around, the fact that Chase reported to training camp on time made discussions seem a little more advanced than they really were. Chase was always going to report on the third day of camp in order to collect his $3.81MM training camp roster bonus, but due to “a miscommunication and a misunderstanding,” he arrived on the first day. He also initially threatened to miss the first two games of the regular season before deciding that he would play regardless of contract status.

Even with Chase in the fold, the Bengals suffered an upset loss to New England in Week 1 and will have their work cut out for them as they take on the Chiefs today.

Bengals, WR Ja’Marr Chase Will Not Agree To Extension Prior To Week 1

September 8th, 2024 at 10:21am CST by Rory Parks

Despite some optimism that the Bengals and star wideout Ja’Marr Chase would finalize an extension prior to today’s regular season opener against the Patriots, that is not expected to happen, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Chase, who was listed as questionable for the New England contest due to an illness, is active, although veteran NFL reporter James Palmer says that the three-time Pro Bowler will be limited.

Chase, 24, is under contract through the 2025 season by virtue of the fifth-year option on his rookie deal, but the LSU product is looking to take advantage of the booming wide receiver market and land a lucrative new contract. Despite the remaining club control, the Bengals have shown a willingness to negotiate with their WR1, and talks have been ongoing for months.

On Friday, Chase himself indicated that an extension is “in reach,” which reflects the increased efforts that Cincinnati has made to resolve the matter in recent days. Those efforts include a reportedly significant offer that was not significant enough to get a deal done.

It is unclear whether negotiations will continue into the regular season. Schefter’s report merely indicated that an agreement would not be struck prior to kickoff today, whereas NFL insider Jordan Schultz appears to suggest that talks will be tabled now that the season is underway. Schultz says, “after months of negotiations, the two sides couldn’t bridge the gap, and Cincinnati was unwilling to compromise.” As such, Schultz’s sources tell him that a deal is “not expected.”

Chase has previously indicated he is prepared to play out the 2024 campaign without an extension in hand, and he may have to do just that. However, given the progress the two sides seem to have made, it is fair to expect that a new deal will be reached at some point in the relatively near future, and that Chase will soon be at or near the top of the WR contractual hierarchy.

Although the Bengals are favored to top the rebuilding Patriots today, they will be short-handed at the receiver position. As noted above, Chase’s workload will be limited, and Cincinnati will be without WR2 Tee Higgins, who is dealing with a hamstring ailment. 2024 will be a platform year for Higgins, who is widely expected to be squeezed out of the picture in Cincinnati given the club’s anticipated commitment to Chase.

Ja’Marr Chase: Bengals Extension ‘In Reach’

September 6th, 2024 at 10:37pm CST by Adam La Rose

A breakthrough in the case of Ja’Marr Chase and the Bengals could be imminent. The fourth-year wideout said on Friday (via team reporter Geoff Hobson) an extension is “in reach.”

While Chase added that he is prepared to play this season without an extension in hand (h/t Jay Morrison of Pro Football Network), that update points to a deal being distinctly possible before Week 1. Cincinnati has made increased efforts in recent days to get an agreement over the finish line.

That process includes a “significant” offer which is on the table as the countdown to Week 1 continues. Chase has practiced on a limited basis this week, and he termed himself a game-time decision for Cincinnati’s season opener. Team and player could continue negotiations into the regular season, but all of the other receiver mega-deals of the 2024 offseason have been worked out by now. As things stand, Chase is on the books through 2025.

The Bengals made the obvious move of picking up his fifth-year option last offseason, and as a result he is due to collect $21.82MM next year. The three-time Pro Bowler has long been on the extension radar, though, and he confirmed (via The Athletic’s Paul Dehner Jr.) talks have been ongoing for six months. Chase said he was informed by the front office a deal would be worked out this offseason, with today representing his artificial deadline for an extension to be signed.

Cincinnati has stood firm in terms of not breaking organizational practices by making guarantee commitments beyond the first year of an extension. Quarterback Joe Burrow represents an exception to that rule, and the same will surely be true for Chase if/when his extension is on the books. Justin Jefferson reset the WR market with a $35MM-per-year accord and nearly $89MM in guarantees. CeeDee Lamb (Cowboys) and Brandon Aiyuk (49ers) have since signed big-ticket deals of their own, with Lamb in particular landing a similar commitment for locked in compensation. It remains to be seen where Chase will land in the pecking order amongst young wideouts, although his Friday comments confirmed he sees himself as the league’s top receiver.

Burrow is in place long term, and his connection with Chase has remained strong at the NFL level after their time together at LSU. Tee Higgins will play on the franchise tag in 2024, and a free agent departure would come as no surprise. Chase figures to be in the Bengals’ offensive plans for years to come, and that may be official in time for the start of the season.

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