The buzz around the Cincinnati Bengals and their star wide receiver, Ja’Marr Chase, indicates that this offseason could see a major shakeup in the wide receiver market. With Justin Jefferson setting a high bar with his $35 million annual deal last year, the expectation is that Chase will aim for at least $36 million. Despite having ample time for negotiations, it seems that reaching a mutual agreement might take a while.
According to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, the Bengals have already put an offer on the table for Chase. However, as of her March 1 article and further comments on social media, the two parties appear to be significantly apart in their talks.
A tweet from Russini on March 3, 2025, highlighted that Chase is a top priority for Cincinnati as they look to redefine the market. She disclosed, “An offer has been made by Cincinnati, but the two sides remain far apart for now, per sources.”
Recently, Cincinnati opted to assign the franchise tag to their other key wide receiver, Tee Higgins, which raised some eyebrows, especially from Chase. His surprise is puzzling—does it stem from the Bengals’ previous focus on securing Higgins long-term, or does it relate to Chase wanting them to prioritize his contract first?
Russini also provided another intriguing morsel of information. The Bengals have expressed intentions of cementing deals with not only Chase and Higgins, but also Trey Hendrickson. However, if all three contracts can’t be secured, it seems Hendrickson might be the odd one out.
This makes logical sense considering Higgins was tagged—though the clip went live before the official tag. A tagged player can still be traded, as shown by the Chiefs’ trade of CB L’Jarius Snead last year, or the tag can be removed, much like the Panthers did with Josh Norman. Clearly, Chase is the Bengals’ prime focus, as managing expenses for two wide receivers is challenging.
While Joe Burrow, the Bengals’ quarterback, entered the NFL with Higgins, his connection with Chase goes back further. Their college days were marked by a record-breaking season. Once Chase joined the Bengals, he quickly became Burrow’s preferred target. Over time, Chase has risen to one of the league’s premier talents, leading in receptions, yards, and touchdowns in 2024.
Yet, Russini’s report leaves some ambiguity. Her assertion that the Bengals and Chase are far from agreement is vague. It could refer to differences in total contract value, guaranteed money, or the structure of payments. Some might speculate a low-ball offer around $25 million, while others might imagine the team offering $36 million with Chase pushing for $40 million.
Ultimately, what’s clear is how crucial it is for the Bengals to seal the deal with Ja’Marr Chase. The franchise learned a tough lesson with quarterback Carson Palmer’s departure due to their hesitancy in investing in talent. Burrow has been outspoken about retaining core players, particularly Chase. Failing to secure him could severely impact their relationship with Burrow, possibly jeopardizing ties with one of the most significant figures in Bengals history.
