The Cincinnati Bengals are gearing up for a new NFL season, and with QB Joe Burrow at the helm, they will aim to reach the Super Bowl once again. Meanwhile, one of their star players is fighting for a lucrative contract extension with the franchise.
Coached by Zac Taylor, the Bengals began the preseason with a 17-14 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They still have two more games before the start of the new season, where Burrow and company will aim to go as far as possible.
The Ohio franchise last appeared in Super Bowl LVI, where they were ultimately defeated by the Los Angeles Rams. The goal remains the same, with several players focused on achieving it.
One of the star players on the roster is entering the final year of his contract and will seek to negotiate a lucrative extension with owner Mike Brown to secure a long-term deal with the franchise.
The player in question is none other than Ja’Marr Chase. The 24-year-old WR is approaching the end of his contract with the Bengals and will seek a lucrative extension that ties him to Cincinnati for many more years.
What does Mike Brown plan to do with Ja’Marr Chase?
Chase plans to secure a contract extension that improves his financial situation, but according to former New York Jets General Manager Mike Tannenbaum, Brown might apply the franchise tag to him next year.
“At $4.8 million, Ja’Marr Chase is dramatically underpaid,” Tannenbaum said on ESPN’s ‘Get Up.‘ “However, I’ve negotiated with Mike Brown in trades. He is a guy that puts a value on a position and he will not move, period, end of story. So this, to me, is really interesting. [Chase is] supposed to make $4.8 million this year, $21.8 million next year, and the year after, guys, just to remind you, like his teammate Tee Higgins, they can franchise [tag] him. So if I’m Mike Brown, I’m saying, ‘Hey, for the next 3 years, I know what you’re going to get paid.’”
Chase current contractual situation
Ja’Marr Chase is set to earn $4.86 million this year with the Cincinnati. Since the Bengals have exercised the fifth-year option on his contract, he is scheduled to make $21.82 million next season, which accounts for roughly 70% of his total earnings over four seasons in the NFL.
After the fifth season, Chase is not technically under contract, but the team can use the franchise tag on him. This season, the franchise tag for a wide receiver is equal to Chase’s fifth-year salary. However, as the salary cap and contracts continue to rise, Chase would likely earn significantly more if the Bengals decided to apply the franchise tag to him in 2026.