There’s never been a better time to be a top-flight wide receiver in the NFL. There is seemingly a new $100 million+ contract handed out to a pass-catcher every few weeks, with Cincinnati Bengals stud JaMarr Chase next in line for a huge extension.
But, with a week to go before the regular season begins, JaMarr Chase and the Bengals have not agreed to an extension, putting his availability for the season-opener in serious doubt. And, in a way, contracts handed out to players like the Cowboys’ CeeDee Lamb and the 49ers’ Brandon Aiyuk are to blame for the lack of resolution in the Ja’Marr Chase contract saga.
Chase entered the league in 2021 and was an instant star. In his rookie campaign, he helped a passing attack that was a catalyst for a Bengals Super Bowl appearance with over 1400 yards and 13 touchdowns. He’s battled injuries to both himself and quarterback Joe Burrow the last two seasons, but has managed to go over 1000 yards both years and his 82.6 yards per game average for his career puts him in the top five all-time in that stat.
Aiyuk and Lamb. both got big extensions worth over $100 million dollars, a price tag that Ja’Marr Chase will absolutely get when the time comes. But, one of the reasons why the Bengals may not feel the same sense os urgency to get a deal done for Chase is that those players were playing on their fifth-year rookie options this year, which is typically when long-term extensions get done for former first-round picks like Chase who have a great start to their careers. The Bengals are reluctant to essentially pay Ja’Marr Chase a year earlier than those two players plus his former LSU teammate Justin Jefferson got their big extensions out of the NFL Draft Class of 2020.
That’s not good enough for Chase, as he understandably wants his long-term financial security secured before playing this year. Chase, like Brandon Aiyuk, is “holding in”, meaning he’s been attending meetings and practice but hasn’t been physically practicing so as to avoid injury risk. With the Bengals opener against the Patriots a week away, it’s now-or-never in terms of getting a deal done, Chase returning to play without an extension, or continuing his “hold-in” and missing time in the regular season.
And, the price has surely gone up after the contracts given out to Lamb and Aiyuk. He’s probably a better player than Aiyuk and is right in the same tier as CeeDee Lamb.
What will happen? Bengals Head Coach Zac Taylor doesn’t seem to know.
#Bengals HC Zac Taylor answered, "We'll just take it day by day," when asked if Ja'Marr Chase will play on Sunday vs. the Patriots. https://t.co/utDOdrTj7A
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) September 2, 2024
The Bengals should be able to handle a bad Patriots team without JaMarr Chase. But, they probably want him back for a huge Week 2 game against the Kansas City Chiefs that could have huge playoff-seeding implications down the line.