NFL Rumors: Ja’Marr Chase Has Received ‘Significant’ Contract Offers from Bengals

Paul KasabianFeatured Columnist IISeptember 5, 2024

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The Cincinnati Bengals have reportedly made “significant offers” to superstar wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase, who conducted a hold-in this summer in search of a lucrative long-term contract extension.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network provided the details on the latest edition of The Insiders (30-second mark) on Wednesday, when Chase returned (and participated) in the team’s practice in advance of Sunday’s season opener against the New England Patriots.

Ian Rapoport @RapSheetFrom The Insiders on @NFLNetwork: #Bengals WR Ja’Marr Chase walked out to practice, which was a very good sign. But not there yet… pic.twitter.com/2c2C5NOMDY

“The Bengals have made significant offers to Ja’Marr Chase. I would say at least somewhat in the neighborhood of what he wants. They do not have a deal yet. I wouldn’t describe this as close. But I would say it’s at least closer for Ja’Marr Chase to practice. That is a big deal. I know there’s some optimism that he looked good in practice, that he’s potentially getting ready to play. All of these good things.

“We know that he wants to beat Justin Jefferson on his deal, and Mike Brown said, it was something that he believed was unlikely where they are almost nearly kind of, sort of there. Can the Bengals get it over the goal line? We shall see…if the Bengals don’t get there, if they say this is as far as we’re gonna go and it’s still not good enough, what does Ja’Marr Chase do? Still some potential drama in the course of this week.”

The wide receiver market has been set by the Minnesota Vikings’ Justin Jefferson, Chase’s former LSU teammate. Per Over the Cap, Jefferson inked a four-year, $140 million contract extension with $88,743,000 in guarantees.

Rapoport previously reported that Chase wants his contract to tie Jefferson’s or be one penny more (42-second mark).

Ian Rapoport @RapSheetFrom The Insiders on @NFLNetwork: According to coach Zac Taylor, #Bengals WR Ja’Marr Chase is expected to play Week 1. pic.twitter.com/Bdly8EPEhb

“My understanding is that the two sides are still discussing a long-term extension, that, if he got it, would make him either tied for the highest-paid receiver with Justin Jefferson, or beating Justin Jefferson by one cent, which I believe is the goal by Ja’Marr Chase,” Rapoport said.

It’s not clear yet if Chase achieves that goal, but it’s a great sign that the three-time Pro Bowler has returned to the field. He’s an electric talent and one of the game’s top offensive players at his best. Per Pro Football Reference, his 17-game average over his first three seasons is 101 catches, 1,404 yards and 11 touchdowns.

That’s obviously well-deserving of a lucrative new contract. That hasn’t happened as of yet as Chase currently plays out a rookie deal that runs through 2025, but it appears that some progress has been made as the Bengals’ season opener rapidly approaches.