In a typical season, the first Thursday of the regular season marks an important day for NFL teams. Last year, the Cincinnati Bengals inked a second contract with their star quarterback Joe Burrow on that very day. Fast forward to this year, and all eyes are on wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase to see if he will follow in Burrow’s footsteps.
The stakes are high for the Bengals and Chase. If a deal isn’t reached, things could take a turn for the interesting, and potentially ugly, in Cincinnati. Chase is currently in the fourth year of his rookie deal and is clearly deserving of a significant pay raise from the $4.8 million he is set to make this season. The Bengals are likely aware that waiting until 2025 to negotiate a new contract will result in a higher average payout per year, but would allow them to keep Chase on a bargain rate for 2024.
The team’s desire to delay negotiations may be enough to prevent a deal from being struck. Similar situations arose last year with the Vikings and Cowboys choosing to delay second deals with their first-round receivers. It appears the Bengals are taking a page out of their playbook.
According to a source with knowledge of the situation, negotiations between Chase and the Bengals are currently at a standstill. It’s a battle to see which side will budge first.
The looming question remains – what will happen if a deal isn’t reached? During a recent press conference, Burrow hinted at the uncertainty surrounding Chase’s availability for Sunday’s game, stating “if” he plays. Without a new contract in place, will Chase take the field? Will he potentially use an injury, real or imagined, as leverage to secure a deal?
Despite the Bengals’ desire to wait, the time has come to make a decision. A lucrative extension, such as a four-year, $140.4 million deal, could solidify Chase’s future with the team. This would make him the highest-paid wide receiver in terms of new-money average per year at $35.1 million. Over a six-year span, including the two years remaining on his current deal, Chase could potentially earn $163.271 million, with an annual average of $27.2 million from signing.
With so much on the line, the Bengals must act swiftly to secure their future with their star receiver. Only time will tell if a deal will be struck before kickoff on Sunday. Stay tuned for the latest updates on this developing story.
