The Cincinnati Bengals are desperate to keep Ja’Marr Chase – and to keep star quarterback Joe Burrow happy..
So much so, that they will offer the wide receiver a record-breaking deal.
During his annual media session at the NFL scouting combine, general manager Duke Tobin promised as much.
Indicating that the franchise wants to make Chase the highest-paid non-quarterback in the league.
“Ja’Marr’s always going to be our priority,” Tobin said.
“He’s going to end up being the No. 1 paid non-quarterback in the league. We’re there. Let’s get it done.”
It’s no shock that the Bengals are doing everything to keep Chase after the star’s historic season last year.
The fifth-year veteran became the sixth player since 1970 to win the receiving “triple crown” by leading the league in receptions (127), receiving yards (1,708) and touchdowns (17).
Chase’s receptions and yards were also Bengals franchise records.
Those stats have made him vital to this Bengals’ team and that is why to keep him, Tobin has recognised that they’ll have to offer him a lucrative contract.
Currently, Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson holds the record for the most lucrative non-quarterback contract.
In 2024, Jefferson penned a four-year, $140 million contract with $110 million in guaranteed money.
This is the second off-season that the Bengals have tried to extend Chase’s contract.
Last year, talks broke down when the 24-year-old refused to sign the deal that was on the table.
“He changed his mind, which is fine,” Tobin said.
“We understood. There’s not hard feelings in this stuff. I don’t get angry about this kind of stuff. It’s just business.”
When pressed about the specifics of the contract, Tobin refused to go into details.
The issue the Bengals face is that Chase’s fellow receiver Tee Higgins is due to hit Free Agency unless the team franchise tag him or agree terms on a new contract.
And leading edge rusher Trey Hendrickson is also out of contract, and after registering the most sacks in the NFL last season (17.5) is likely to command huge terms.
It’s a balancing act for the Bengals not helped by superstar quarterback Burrow piling the pressure on the organization by being vocal about his wide receiver staying with him.
“We all want to stay together, so we want to make it work,” Burrow said last month.
The Bengals are the only team in the league that does not provide any guaranteed money to non-quarterbacks outside of the first year and Tobin suggested that is unlikely to change.
“He’s going to be highly compensated,” Tobin said.
“What the details look like will be between his representation and us.
GettyTee Higgins is a third high profile Bengal seeking a new deal this offseason[/caption]
“We are prepared to do what is necessary to get him done. There is framework there. We will follow them.”
Whatever Chase’s contract ends up looking like, we know he won’t sign anything that he doesn’t perceive as his real worth.
“At the end of the day, I just hope I get what’s fair,” the former LSU star told ESPN’s Laura Rutledge about his contract talks.
“Hopefully I don’t put too much pressure on anybody, but I just want it to be fair, that’s all.”
What is fair won’t be anything short of a record-breaking contract.
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