The latest update on the Ja’Marr Chase contract situation suggests that he and the Bengals were waiting for Justin Jefferson‘s extension to be finalized before working out their own. Now that Jefferson’s deal has been signed, all eyes will be on Chase’s status once again. 
Jefferson achieved his goal of becoming the highest-paid non-quarterback in terms of AAV with his $35MM deal with Minnesota. The extension also places him in an elite category for guaranteed money, with almost $89MM guaranteed at signing and $110MM in total guarantees. Given the Bengals’ history with long-term contracts, the structure of Jefferson’s deal is significant.
Chase’s former LSU teammate secured guarantees for all but the final season of his contract, showing a long-term commitment from the Vikings that the Bengals usually avoid. Quarterback Joe Burrow is an exception to this, and it will be interesting to see if Chase can negotiate a similar deal.
According to The Athletic’s Paul Dehner Jr., the guarantees in Jefferson’s deal were “eye-opening,” making them more important than the overall value. Chase and Cowboys’ CeeDee Lamb are likely to seek deals with similar AAV, with Jefferson setting the benchmark for receivers. Lamb is expected to engage in contract talks with Dallas soon as he skips mandatory minicamp.
Chase, who missed the start of OTAs, may take a similar approach, but Dehner notes that the Bengals can afford to be patient. They exercised the fifth-year option on the 24-year-old this offseason, keeping him on the team until 2025. Wide receivers typically do not land significant extensions until after their fourth year, but there have been exceptions in 2024.
With impressive stats of 3,717 yards and 29 touchdowns in 45 games, Chase has a strong case for a deal comparable to Jefferson’s. However, Dehner suggests that Chase’s camp may need to make concessions in the negotiations. Waiting for a spike in the cap ceiling and another round of top receiver deals could enhance Chase’s leverage.
It is crucial for Cincinnati to consider the status of fellow wide receiver Tee Higgins in Chase’s negotiations. Higgins is set to play on the franchise tag in 2024, and a long-term commitment beyond that could complicate Chase’s deal. The developments with both receivers will be closely monitored.
