"His business is his business": Joe Burrow on Ja'Marr Chase's contract extension with Bengals
Joe Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase have been teammates for quite some time. After so much time together, some fans might have been under the impression that Burrow had a special window into what's going on with Chase. The Bengals wide receiver is in a hold-in due to a contract dispute.
Speaking to the media in a video posted to YouTube by the team's channel, Burrow shattered any impression of knowing details about the wide receiver's situation, per Sports Illustrated. Burrow said:
"I would say I went through it last year. So I kind of have some insight into how these things kind of go. And so we've been creating a dialogue and talking through certain things, obviously. His business is his business, but I've been able to give some insight into how my process was because I think it's pretty similar."
In other words, he has an insight into what it's like to sit across the desk from General Manager Duke Tobin. However, he doesn't appear to have any inside information on his No. 1 wide receiver.
That said, fans and analysts have predicted Chase to get within at least a stone's throw of Justin Jefferson's wide receiver market-setting deal. Jefferson signed a four-year extension this offseason that will make him $35 million annually.
How long do the Bengals have to sign Ja'Marr Chase?
Chase and CeeDee Lamb serve as two of the last biggest-name wide receivers with unresolved business. It is unclear how long the holdouts and hold-ins will continue across the league. However, with the regular season serving as a general hard stop to holdouts in most situations, one can comfortably expect at least a ceasefire to be reached this month and most players back to work.
However, a ceasefire would only table discussions in the short term. The length of Chase's contract determines how long both parties can wait to get a deal done. According to Spotrac, the Bengals still have plenty of time to drag out negotiations.
Ja'Marr Chase remains under contract through the 2025 season. As such, the team still has two full seasons to get a deal done. That said, most teams typically sign their stars ahead of their fifth year. Chase is looking to get a deal done one season earlier, which is where the disconnect might be taking place.
Next offseason, there will be a greater sense of urgency to get something done. If things truly get desperate, the Bengals will have the right to use a franchise tag on Ja'Marr Chase in 2026 and 2027, although negotiations with stars rarely get to that point.
Is Ja'Marr Chase's negotiation with the Bengals only getting started?