The Cincinnati Bengals are ready to open contract negotiations again with wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase, who likely is seeking to become the highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL.
Chase, 24, is entering the final season of his rookie deal and is coming off a season in which he won the receivers’ triple crown, leading the NFL in
receptions (127), receiving yards (1,708) and receiving touchdowns (17).
“It’s a priority for us,” Bengals’ director of personnel Duke Tobin told The (Cincinnati) Enquirer on Wednesday. “It’s something we feel like there’s a framework to work off of. … Guys in his position have recently re-done contracts. We believe in Ja’Marr, he’s very important to us. The other guys that have done contracts are very important to their teams. So, we believe there’s a real framework to work off of. I would expect that we could come together on something that makes sense for both sides.”
That framework starts with the $140 million, four-year deal between the Minnesota Vikings and Justin Jefferson, who received $110 million in guaranteed money. His average annual salary of $35 million tops all non-quarterbacks.
The Bengals selected Chase with the No. 5 overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft, and he signed a four-year, $30.8 million contract. The team exercised its $21.8 million option for 2025 last April.
But the two sides weren’t able to reach an agreement last summer on an extension. Chase reported to training camp to avoid fines but didn’t practice until just before the season opener.
The Bengals, who finished 9-8 and just out of the AFC playoffs this season, already have signed quarterback Joe Burrow to a long-term deal. The two, teammates at LSU, have been magical together.
In his career, Chase has played in 62 games (61 starts) and has made 395 catches for 5,425 yards and 46 touchdowns.
