Bengals star wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase elected to play the 2024 season without a long-term guaranteed contract and he's already proving his worth.
After sitting out all of training camp and the preseason, Chase elected to take the field with his teammates to open the regular season. He got out to a slow start in his first two games but has since exploded like the dynamic playmaker he is.
Chase has racked up 19 receptions for 396 yards and an NFL-best five touchdown receptions over the last three games alone.
Will Cincinnati reward its No. 1 receiver with a lucrative contract extension for his production so far this season? The Sporting News takes a closer look below.
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Will Bengals, Ja'Marr Chase reach contract agreement?
Chase and the Bengals are not expected to negotiate a long-term deal this season, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported after Week 1 of the 2024 season.
"Talks between Chase and the Bengals are off for now, and probably for the rest of the season, unless the team does something to change the situation," Schefter wrote.
"The star wide receiver believes the Bengals misled him when they told him at the end of last season, and again during the offseason, he would get an extension that ultimately did not happen."
Chase "held in" for the majority of training camp as his team tried to work an extension with the Bengals' front office.
Even when those negotiations stalled leading into the first game of the year, Chase decided he would still take the field with his teammates to open the season — but not without protecting his future first.
Chase reportedly took out a $50 million insurance policy on himself "to safeguard against injury and any potential lost earnings," per Schefter.
Chase was reportedly close to inking a deal with the Bengals before the start of the season but talks fell through over the "structure of the deal and payout of the money." The contract would have made Chase the NFL's new highest-paid receiver, beating out the $35 million annual average of his former LSU teammate, Vikings star Justin Jefferson.
"He's good," one of Schefter's sources said of Chase's attitude about playing the 2024 season on an insurance policy.
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Ja'Marr Chase contract details
Chase is in the final year of his rookie contract, only making $1.05 million in base salary.
That figure makes him one of the lowest-paid starting receivers in the NFL. It's worth noting that Chase signed a four-year, $30.8 million deal as a rookie. Most of the money came by way of a signing bonus and roster bonus, so he's still making a decent amount overall this season.
In the off-chance he plays a full season without a new contract and still cannot reach an agreement with the Bengals next spring, he has a club option worth $21.8 million for the 2025 season before becoming an unrestricted free agent in 2026.
(All contract figures per Spotrac.)
| Year | Age | Base Salary |
| 2024 | 24 | $1.055 million |
| 2025 | 25 | $21.82 million |
| 2026 | 26 | UFA |
Ja'Marr Chase stats
- Targets: 36
- Receptions: 29
- Receiving yards: 493
- Receiving TDs: 5
Chase has erupted after a slow start, breaking off 60-plus-yard touchdowns in each of his last two games. He's up to 29 receptions for 493 yards and an NFL-leading five touchdown receptions through five games.
