Ja’Marr Chase wants to "beat the sh*t" out of Justin Jefferson's $140,000,000 deal with new Bengals contract
Ja’Marr Chase is currently negotiating a new contract extension with the Cincinnati Bengals. The first-round pick from the 2021 NFL Draft has been an elite player since he entered the league, and he could soon potentially become the highest-paid wide receiver in the NFL.
Chase still has two years left on his rookie contract, but was holding out throughout the offseason. Fortunately, he recently practiced with the team, just days before the Bengals' Week 1 game against the New England Patriots.
At the time of writing, Justin Jefferson is the highest-paid non-quarterback in the league. He signed a four-year, $140 million deal this offseason, but some reports indicated that Chase could be willing to take just one penny more than the Vikings star to become the highest-paid player at his position. However, the Bengals wideout has clarified that rumor. Chase said:
“If I want to beat Justin, I’m going to beat the sh*t out of Justin, not by a penny, brother.”
Ja’Marr Chase's comments indicate that he could get a significantly better deal than Jefferson. If that's the case, then it will be very interesting to see how the Bengals will construct their roster going forward given that Joe Burrow also signed a five-year, $275 million deal last year.
If Chase signs a new deal in the coming days, then Tee Higgins' departure from the team after this year is almost certain.
Ja'Marr Chase is set to play in Week 1 vs Patriots
In conversation with the media, Ja’Marr Chase confirmed that he will play this upcoming season even if a new deal is not signed by then. He is expected to play in Week 1 against the Patriots but will be limited due to a lack of practice in the months leading up to the start of the regular season.
The 24-year-old wideout is crucial for his team's success, and without him, the Bengals are not a Super Bowl contender. As a result, his contract extension remains a priority for the franchise, and a deal could be agreed upon before the game against the Patriots.
In 16 games last season, he had 100 catches for 1,216 yards and seven touchdowns. Chase averaged 12.2 yards per reception and 76.0 receiving yards per game. Since Burrow is back healthy, Chase's numbers will likely be better this year.