The Cincinnati Bengals may enter the 2024 NFL season without the services of star wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase, and they may have Chase’s teammate Justin Jefferson to blame.
Chase is currently awaiting a new contract as he enters the penultimate year of his initial contract. While star wide receivers like Jefferson and Cowboys star CeeDee Lamb have signed extensions this offseason, Chase and the Bengals have yet to reach an agreement.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Jefferson could be responsible. “I understand that the two sides are still discussing a long-term extension, which, if you get it, will either put you in a tie with Justin Jefferson for the highest-paid job, or beat Justin Jefferson in the first place.” currency, which I believe is the goal of Ja’Marr Chase,” Rapoport said this week.
Jefferson signed a four-year, $130 million contract with the Minnesota Vikings earlier this summer. Lamb recently agreed to a four-year, $136 million contract to stay in Dallas. Jefferson’s contract included $110 million guaranteed compared to Lamb’s $100 million. It is unclear whether Chase will reject an offer of $139 million and $109 million guaranteed. But there seems to be some rivalry between him and his former teammate.
One factor working against Chase is Lamb’s deal with the Cowboys. Lamb caught 135 passes for 1,749 yards and 12 touchdowns for Dallas in 2023. He was the one who made the Cowboys’ offense. Meanwhile, Chase caught 100 passes for 1,216 yards and seven touchdowns. He was an elite player in every way. But he was not as productive as Lamb.
Lamb is a year older than Chase, but he was also on the cusp of free agency a year ago. The Bengals also need to find a way to pay the No. 1 receiver. 2, Tee Higgins, who passed for 1,000 yards in 2021 and 2022 before an injury-plagued 2023 season.