How much will Ja’Marr Chase want from the Bengals?

So it’s a “precedence” for the Bengals to signal receiver Ja’Marr Chase to a brand new deal? Yeah, welcome to 2024.

Then once more, the Bengals at all times appear to be behind the occasions, in relation to taking a crowbar to Mike Brown’s piggy financial institution.

Extending Chase final 12 months was additionally a precedence. Chase made it one. And, as Chase sees it, they promised to get it achieved. The issue, as we perceive it, was that the numbers in contrast favorably to the market as of 2024, however that the construction was subpar, to say the least.

The existence of an deadlock was apparent. Chase barely practiced throughout camp. On the primary day of the season, Chase wrestled with whether or not to play in opposition to the Patriots — proper up till the time for declaring inactive gamers.

And the Bengals misplaced to New England that day. Flip that to a win and, all different issues being equal, the Bengals would have made the playoffs.

Chase went on to play in all 17 video games, main the league in catches, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns. For that efficiency, the Bengals paid Chase lower than $5 million.

Now, it appears primarily based on Bengals govt Duke Tobin’s feedback from Wednesday that they plan to take a cookie cutter to the contracts presently on the prime of the market, the place Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson presently leads all receivers with a new-money common of $35 million.

It’s far more difficult than that. The market went up considerably final 12 months, from the higher 20s to the mid-30s. It should, or at the least ought to, go up once more. Additionally, the wage cap will improve once more this 12 months. At a minimal, Chase ought to need a cope with a new-money common of $40 million per 12 months.

And he’s justified in in search of far more than that.

On Thursday’s PFT Dwell, we went by way of a number of the quarterbacks presently making greater than $50 million per 12 months. Would you relatively have Chase or, for instance, or Jalen Hurts? Chase or Tua Tagovailoa? Chase or Jared Goff? Chase or Trevor Lawrence? Chase or Justin Herbert? Chase or Dak Prescott?

On one stage, it’s a sophisticated train. At one other stage, it’s easy. Chase ought to have been paid on the prime of the market final 12 months. Regardless of the dearth of a second deal, he was dominant. Past negotiating a deal that anticipates the expansion of the market, components within the improve within the cap, and compensates Chase retroactively for the worth the Bengals acquired after lowballing Chase (from a structural standpoint) final 12 months, he’s justified in making an attempt to blow the lid off the market. $40 million? How about $50 million?

The issue is that the Bengals can, and maybe will, squat on Chase at $21.8 million for 2025, the franchise tag for 2026, and probably a second tag for 2027. He may let it play out and hit the market in 2028. However that’s three seasons away. He’ll be 28. And he’ll bear the chance of a big harm impacting his worth.

The Collective Bargaining Settlement offers the Bengals the suitable to let it play out, one 12 months at a time. Chase has rights, too. That truth shouldn’t be forgotten if/when he chooses to take full benefit of these rights — particularly if the Bengals absolutely intend to do the identical.