Though a number of offers — most notably the one in Minnesota — remodeled the receiver market this yr, no extra tectonic shifts stay for the Bengals to look at. The market’s subsequent seismic transfer figures to return out of Cincinnati. Will the perimeters hammer out a deal now or find yourself ready till 2025?
Ja’Marr Chase has practiced in a restricted capability in every of the previous two days, doing so after beforehand yo-yoing between a hold-in and collaborating. Whereas this bodes properly for Chase’s availability in Week 1, this example isn’t but settled. The fourth-year wideout is not viewed as a lock to be on the field in opposition to the Patriots.
Not often known as a group that provides in on these issues, the Bengals could also be compelled to deviate from their normal contract practices to lock down Chase. The group doesn’t provide non-quarterbacks ensures past 12 months 1 of extensions, making the Bengals among the many few NFL groups who nonetheless proceed this fashion. Jefferson, nonetheless, reset the market by securing $110M assured ($88.7M at signing) and the Cowboys quickly gave CeeDee Lamb $100M assured ($67M at signing). The market is successfully set for Chase, who’s a yr youthful than each gamers.
Chase is angling to high Jefferson’s $35M-per-year accord and whereas the assure construction figures to current extra issues for the Bengals than reaching that AAV will, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport notes the team has submitted a “vital, vital” provide to the All-Professional expertise. The group had recently intensified its effort to extend Chase and this course of goes all the way down to the wire.
It’s not identified if the events will shut down negotiations after the common season begins, however latest Bengals negotiations have proceeded this fashion. Tee Higgins and the group stopped speaking after a below-market offer annoyed the team’s WR2, with essentially the most profitable receiver contract in Bengals historical past — A.J. Inexperienced‘s four-year, $60M deal — was agreed to on Sept. 11, 2015. That decision occurred two days earlier than the common season that yr.
No Bengals participant is presently tied to a contract that included upfront ensures between $146.5M (Joe Burrow‘s) and $31.1M (Orlando Brown Jr.‘s signing bonus). Chase might want to land properly north of Brown’s quantity to signal and he has used this apply sample to successfully ramp up negotiations with the Bengals. With no different receiver dominoes to fall, Chase slow-playing issues — one thing the Bengals viewed him as doing earlier this offseason, because the Jefferson-Vikings negotiations completed up — is now not needed. Six wideouts at the moment are tied to offers price greater than $30M per yr, in comparison with one in 2023. At 24, Chase can pair his accomplishments (three Professional Bowls, one second-team All-Professional nod) with youth to push the Bengals to the brink.
Some among the many Bengals have bristled in regards to the notion the franchise needs to adjust its guarantee structure to accommodate Chase, however contract construction has been an issue during these talks. Mike Brown had pointed to a 2025 agreement being more likely, when addressing the matter early in coaching camp, however known as Chase the group’s second-highest precedence behind Burrow. With the membership not anticipated to offer Higgins a long-term deal — largely due to Chase’s upcoming payday, be it this yr or subsequent — the runway is evident for the previous No. 5 total choose to signal. All that is still is an old-school group providing a market-value extension.
Chase topping Jefferson’s quantity would make for 4 receivers setting a place AAV document this yr. Amon-Ra St. Brown, A.J. Brown and Jefferson have accomplished so. St. Brown, Jaylen Waddle and DeVonta Smith have been paid amongst 2021 first-round wideouts. It will look unusual — regardless of each group within the rookie-scale contract period waiting until Year 5 to extend a Round 1 WR, earlier than this offseason modified the sport — if Chase was left on his rookie deal for a fourth season. That’s near occurring, because the LSU alum continues to angle for the highest WR payday.