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Ja’Marr Chase continues his contract negotiations with the Cincinnati Bengals as the 2024 NFL Season gets underway. The wideout is looking for a new deal with his current franchise, though he has one supposed stipulation.
Chase wants to be the highest paid receiver in the league, even if it means besting former LSU teammate Justin Jefferson by a single penny.
That pride might’ve played a part in his turning down an absurd amount of money.
Chase held out of Bengals preseason camp while discussing his demands with the front office. NFL insider Ian Rapoport previously reported that a deal was still in reach just before Cincinnati’s opener.
“If he got the extension, 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, in fact, the goal.”
-Ian Rapoport
The pass catcher confirmed that belief when speaking to the media last week, though he took things a step further in detailing his desires.
“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). If that’s the case, it sounds like the proposal wasn’t enough — especially based on the way Chase addressed the media Friday, with conviction that he could shatter Jefferson’s deal.”
-ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler
“If I want to beat Justin, I’m gonna beat the s–t out of Justin,” Chase said last Friday. “Not by a penny, brother.”
He believes he can get whatever he wants from the Bengals.
Ja’Marr Chase cited payment structure in his most recent rejection.
Sports Illustrated reports that Cincinnati came close to that top market ask, offering a price on par with Jefferson’s $35M per year.
The two sides were close to an agreement, league sources say. In fact, the Bengals offered Chase a four-year, $140 million contract with $90 million guaranteed. That guaranteed money included a $30 million signing bonus.
SI says that while those “raw numbers” worked for Chase and his team, there was one holdup.
The wideout reportedly wanted much of his guaranteed money up front to offset his risk of injury. The Bengals weren’t open to doing so, and talks fizzled.
Ja’Marr Chase wants to be paid the most of any receiver in the NFL. He also wants his money upfront.
Cincinnati wants to protect itself on its investment.
For now, the talks remain at a standstill!