![Ja'Marr Chase]()
The Cincinnati Bengals are no longer what you'd call a cheap organization. They shelled out a historic contract for Joe Burrow, have been more proactive in free agency than many realize, and they've mostly made the right calls over who to keep and who to let go during the Joey Franchise era.
One player who the front office is dragging its feet on giving a second contract is superstar wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase. It's needless, really. Ja'Marr has been nothing but a class act since arriving in Cincinnati. He goes about his business, gets his work in, shows up on Sundays and balls the hell out. The bright lights and big stage don't faze him. He has a rare chemistry with Burrow dating back to their college days at LSU. The only silver lining to Joe Brrr having his knee obliterated as a rookie was the higher draft pick the Bengals drew to reunite Ja'Marr and Joe.
So while I acknowledge that a deal will ultimately get done one way or another — even if it's before next season — I can still acknowledge that I'm more than a little peeved that the Bengals haven't gotten this done yet. Why create the distraction? Why wait to pay Ja'Marr? If he goes out and has a career year — I suspect he will, as long as he's willing to play — he'll only be more expensive next offseason.
Funnily enough, I think that's the best outcome for all parties.
https://twitter.com/MattFitz_gerald/status/1831751792901910718
Why? Because Ja'Marr will get more of the money he fully deserves,
and the organization will establish a less stingy precedent when it comes to taking care of one of their home-grown prospects with a splashy second contract.
Whenever that deal comes around, though, make no mistake: Ja'Marr is scanning the competition around the NFL, particularly regarding another ex-LSU running mate, Justin Jefferson. The Minnesota Vikings All-Pro is widely considered the best receiver in the sport. The Vikings paid him like it:
Four years, $140 million.
There's an alleged report out there somewhere about Ja'Marr wanting to better Jefferson's deal by a penny. As if he's really
that petty. As if Jefferson couldn't turn around, rework his deal by two cents and become higher-paid. Thus, I don't blame Ja'Marr for bristling at that notion that he wants a mere penny more. My guy is trying to break the damn bank.
https://twitter.com/marshallkramsky/status/1832092884432236909
https://twitter.com/FOX19Joe/status/1832098258531000475
Pay him now, pay him later. I no longer care. Ja'Marr has made it clear he loves Cincinnati and will ultimately play without a new deal. If it's not this Sunday when the Bengals are massive favorites against the Patriots, I can't fathom he'd ride the pine for Week 2's epic showdown with the Kansas City Chiefs. At least shoot, I hope not. The Bengals are gonna need all the Ja'Marr they can get trying to keep pace with the new-look Chiefs. They now have maybe the
fastest man in the NFL in Xavier Worthy. who had a ho-hum two-touchdown NFL debut.
Tee Higgins has also tweaked his hamstring and is all of a sudden doubtful for Week 1 so...uh...almost by happenstance, to me, the urgency to extend Ja'Marr now should be heightened!!
https://twitter.com/Trags/status/1832127359002046877
The new contract could drop any time now; the Bengals love to frontload big contracts with massive guaranteed money, because they're one of the least-liquid ownerships in the league. I wouldn't be shocked by a three-year, $114 million accord, which would allow Chase to reset the market again sooner.
We'll all find out together soon enough if Ja'Marr will indeed beat the sh*t out of Justin's contract. Regardless, here's hoping
Burrow's serial killer-esque game day routine will be enough to secure Cincinnati's first Week 1 victory since 2021.
