Bengals' Ja'Marr Chase talks contract extension for first time
With wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase about to wrap up his third season with the Cincinnati Bengals, the three-time Pro Bowl selection knows that contract extension talks are on the horizon. Chase spoke on what he'd like to see in his contract for the first time Thursday afternoon. Does it involve guaranteed money up front?"Probably so, […]
With wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase about to wrap up his third season with the Cincinnati Bengals, the three-time Pro Bowl selection knows that contract extension talks are on the horizon.
Chase spoke on what he'd like to see in his contract for the first time Thursday afternoon. Does it involve guaranteed money up front?
"Probably so, yeah."
Early Ja'Marr Chase extension talks
Chase provided that tease and not much else as he's got a game to play before he can even enter negotiations with the Bengals. He watched the front office offer Joe Burrow the second-most guaranteed money in NFL history last Summer.
Burrow is special enough to break Cincinnati's mold. Chase fits that description as well.
Having Burrow and Chase on the books for the foreseeable future will undoubtably change the dynamic of the roster. It's only natural that other parts of the team won't have as much capital devoted to it.
But what about Chase's running mate at receiver Tee Higgins? The soon-to-be 25-year old is scheduled to enter free agency this offseason. Would he take less to ensure Higgins sticks around?
"It depends how much I'm taking," Chase said. "It depends at the end of the day. Because I might not really be taking a cut. it might come from somewhere else."
The issue here is timing. Higgins will enter unrestricted free agency in March unless the Bengals agree to an extension or place the franchise tag on him beforehand. The odds of Chase signing an extension before any of that are slim to none.
In fact, it's not very likely that Chase signs an extension this year at all. The vast majority of non-quarterbacks drafted in the first round who end up with top of the market deals usually get their extensions after their fourth seasons. The fifth-year option gives clubs added leverage in forcing these players to wait. Nick Bosa had to endure it. Justin Jefferson just went through it as well.
What Chase wants or doesn't want probably won't impact how the Bengals manage Higgins. The club tried to extend Higgins last offseason, and considering both sides couldn't come to an agreement, it's fair to assume that Higgins' camp wasn't interested in taking any pay cut in order to keep the band together.
Chase is under no obligation to handle things any differently.
Joe Burrow’s contract has no bearing on Bengals’ ability to build around him
This narrative needs to be put to bed now that Burrow’s extension has arrived.
