“Ain’t worth more than Justin Jefferson” – Ja’Marr Chase is reportedly seeking a record-breaking $40 million per year contract from the Bengals, fans react

While holding out in preseason, Ja'Marr Chase is seeking a record-breaking deal of $40 million per year from the Bengals.

“Ain’t worth more than Justin Jefferson” – Ja’Marr Chase is reportedly seeking a record-breaking $40 million per year contract from the Bengals, fans react

Ja'Marr Chase (Via Imago)

It appears that the Cincinnati Bengals are on the verge of losing their star wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase, who has missed all of the training camp as well as the preseason. The latest update on his contract standoff is the record-breaking deal he is seeking from the team to redefine the wide receiver market. 

Heading into the 2024 season, Chase has entered his fourth year in Cincinnati and after they picked up the fifth-year option of his rookie contract, he is under contract for the coming two seasons. However, since the expansion of the wide receivers market this offseason, Chase seemingly becoming impatient to land a lucrative extension. 

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During a guest appearance on Cincinnati’s ESPN1530 radio station, Local 12’s Bengals reporter Richard Skinner revealed the mammoth amount of $40 million per year that the three-time Pro Bowler is seeking from his team. If granted, this will dethrone Justin Jefferson from being the highest-paid non-quarterback with an annual salary of $35 million. 

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The number I've heard on Ja'Marr's group is four years, maybe close to $160 million. And 120-ish of that guaranteed.
Richard Skinner reported

Unfortunately, fans aren’t responding to Chase’s high demands as he hoped. They claimed on social media that the Bengals’ wideout doesn’t deserve more than Jefferson, writing, “It ain’t worth more than Justin Jefferson,” while another wrote, “Don’t let CeeDee see this.” Here are some of the fan reactions:

Until then, the star receiver has decided to hold out from the camp and preseason but at the same time, Chase had appeared for every practice session and even traveled with the team to Chicago.

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Ja’Marr Chase’s rookie contract and potential extension

AtoZ Sports writer John Sheeran did a deep dive into the contract situation of the wide receiver and found the new mammoth deal that Chase is expected to receive will add to his existing one with one year left. As per his rookie contract, he is expected to earn $26,678,679 but by adding the signing bonus, the amount becomes $31,622,250. 

Two years and $31,622,250 plus four years and $160 million comes out to six years, $191,622,250 in terms of total cap commitments for the Bengals. The real cash value that Chase would earn is $186,678,679. There may be $40 million per year in new money, but the real average annual value (AAV) is all the way down at $31,113,113.
John Sheeran wrote
Ja'Marr Chase Chiefs Bengals
Ja’Marr Chase (Via NFL.com)

The Bengals’ star receiver is likely to land his extension before the upcoming season and may sign for a long-term deal as speculated. This way, the team may sign him for six more seasons in order to make his demanding $160 million more palatable. 

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