NFL insider reports Ja'Marr Chase coming close to signing massive Bengals deal to rival CeeDee Lamb's $34M contract
Ja'Marr Chase had been holding out the entire offseason in hopes of a new contract. That did not come through and the wide receiver attended a few training sessions sporadically towards the end.
He even played in the season opener against the Patriots without a new deal. However, one NFL insider suggests that a massive deal for Chase is in the making.
The Cincinnati Bengals signed Ja'Marr Chase to a four-year rookie deal worth $30.8 million in 2021. Before that was over, the franchise picked up the fifth-year option on his contract. With two years remaining on his contract, the WR decided to hold out, despite the fans not liking the call.
This could be attributed to Ja’Marr Chase seeing several WRs in the league getting high-paying contracts. ESPN’s NFL insider Jeremy Fowler reports that Chase’s dreams of rivaling the contracts of Justin Jefferson and CeeDee Lamb could soon be fulfilled.
“Ja’Marr Chase came close to reaching a deal with Cincinnati before Week 1, but it ultimately didn't get done,” wrote Fowler. “People I spoke to around the league expected the Bengals to pay him somewhere very close to the top of the receiver market, possibly somewhere between CeeDee Lamb ($34 million per year) and Justin Jefferson ($35 million).”
Currently, Jefferson is the highest-paid non-QB in the league, with Lamb occupying the second spot. As per Fowler, Chase’s final number could make him the second-highest-paid non-QB soon enough and knock the Dallas Cowboys man off his position.
Ja’Marr Chase wants more than Justin Jefferson
Almost all of the contractual sagas in this offseason of the NFL have been wrapped up. The only remaining case is that of Ja’Marr Chase.
The Bengals WR insisted to the media earlier this week that he is ready to reset the WR market once again.
"If I want to beat Justin, I’m going to beat the sh*t out of Justin, not by a penny, brother,” said Ja'Marr Chase.
Chase conveyed his feelings before the Patriots game. However, as per Jeremy Fowler, these words might not come true, as Chase’s final contract may fall just short of the Minnesota Vikings man. Still, the WR will overtake CeeDee Lamb.
The Bengals fans would want this contract situation to be resolved before their first away game. Chase & Co. will face the defending champions Kansas City Chiefs at the Arrowhead Stadium for their Week 2 fixture.