CINCINNATI — The Cincinnati Bengals made maybe the simplest resolution they will have all week, selecting up the fifth-year choice on large receiver Ja’Marr Chase’s rookie deal.
The deal, introduced sooner or later earlier than the NFL draft, ensures Chase’s fifth-year wage for the 2025 season will probably be totally assured. The choice 12 months will carry an estimated worth of $21.8 million, in keeping with a projection from OverTheCap.com.
Chase, the fifth total decide within the 2021 draft, has proved not solely that Cincinnati made the suitable alternative in pairing him with Joe Burrow, his school quarterback at LSU, but in addition that he’s among the many league’s greatest receivers. Chase has reached the Professional Bowl in every of his first three NFL seasons, which has led to an additional $7.5 million on his rookie choice.
For the reason that begin of the 2021 season, Chase is tied for third within the league in receiving touchdowns (29) and is seventh in complete receiving yards (3,717), in keeping with ESPN Stats & Data information. He additionally holds the franchise report for many receiving yards in a single sport (266) and a single season (1,455), each of which have been set throughout his rookie season.
Chase is presently eligible for a contract extension and is trying to be paid close to the highest of a market that’s beginning to acquire some motion. On Wednesday, Detroit Lions large receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown agreed to phrases on a brand new contract that gave him $77 million in assured cash, probably the most for a receiver in NFL historical past. Brown, a fourth-round decide in 2021, is behind Chase in complete receiving yards since he entered the league.
Minnesota Vikings large receiver Justin Jefferson, who was additionally at LSU with Burrow and Chase when the Tigers received the nationwide championship in January 2020, has probably the most receiving yards of any extension-eligible receiver presently on a rookie contract, in keeping with ESPN Stats & Information information. Jefferson, a first-round choice in 2020, has but to obtain a contract extension, however Chase is following.
“I must see some extra numbers from him,” Chase stated with a smile when requested concerning the scenario forward of the Bengals’ win over the Vikings this previous December.
