For the wide receiver position and new contracts, it’s been a busy offseason, but Ja’Marr Chase still doesn’t have one. In light of this, Kelsey Conway of the Cincinnati Enquirer revealed that, despite being present on the sidelines, Cincinnati Bengals pass-catcher Josh Allen missed his second straight practice on Thursday.
According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, Chase wants a new contract and is expected to receive $4.86 million in total compensation, including $1 million in base pay. Bengals head coach Zac Taylor responded to reporters after it was suggested that wide receiver Chase would skip workouts, saying it was all part of “a plan that he and I have in place.”
There are other wide receiver contract situations in Cincinnati that are being closely examined, besides Chase. Due to his inability to reach an agreement on a new contract, Tee Higgins will play for the franchise tag in 2024. Though he isn’t holding out, he also apparently didn’t get the trade he asked for earlier in the summer.
According to the team’s official website, Higgins stated:
“This could be the last ride for me and the guys. You never know,” “Instead of holding out and waiting and just watching from afar, I’d rather be in the mix with the guys and grind it out with them. That’s how I’ve always been.”
From the front office’s point of view, the Higgins problem is more urgent than the Chase one because the latter is also under team control until the 2025 season with a $21.8 million club option.
BURROW TO CHASE. 64-YARD TD.
📺: #HOUvsCIN on CBS
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/kECSNGbyLL pic.twitter.com/ahQEdJBTQ1— NFL (@NFL) November 12, 2023
Does Ja’Marr deserve a new contract ?
His desire for a new deal isn’t entirely unexpected, either. After all, with an agreement worth an average of $35 million annually signed this offseason, former LSU teammate Justin Jefferson reset the wide receiver market. A.J. Brown ($32 million), Jaylen Waddle ($28 million), and Amon-Ra St. Brown ($30 million) have signed deals that provide them substantial yearly incomes.
Ja’Marr Chase in action
Among his well-paid counterparts, Chase has undoubtedly been one of the league’s most productive pass-catchers.
Since the Bengals picked him with the fifth overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft, he has amassed more than 1,000 yards and been selected to the Pro Bowl in each of his three seasons. The 2021 Offensive Rookie of the Year had 16 appearances last season and recorded 100 receptions for 1,216 yards and seven touchdowns.
