Mike Brown: Bengals will 'bend over backwards' to extend WR Ja'Marr Chase 

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As soon as it became clear the Bengals would be paying Joe Burrow top-tier money, Cincinnati had to start sorting out the rest of its financial puzzle.

While uncompleted, the picture is becoming clearer. Burrow is signed to a five-year, $275 million deal that leads the NFL in average annual salary. Tee Higgins has been franchise tagged, and is the only player tagged in 2024 who didn’t receive an extension.

Ja'Marr Chase, meanwhile, awaits his own pay day. It feels as if he’s next.

“He’s a key player,” Bengals owner Mike Brown told reporters Monday, via Cincinnati Bengals Talk. “Next to Joe, he’s our next one, and he knows it. We know it. This may take a while.

We will go to great lengths to complete it. However, I cannot specify a timeframe.

Thanks to Chase’s rookie deal — which includes a fifth-year option worth $21.816 million — the Bengals have some built-in protection. The market also doesn’t quite call for urgency, not after Chase’s former LSU teammate, Justin Jefferson, recently signed a four-year, $140 million deal, which could be used as a framework for Chase’s extension.

As a result, this extension may not occur in the near future. It might be a matter to deal with during the offseason.

Brown stated, “I must admit, it’s a challenging issue,”. He continued, “The cap system is quite unique, which can lead to unexpected opportunities and deal-making. We wouldn’t outright reject a good deal, but it’s unlikely that now is the best time to negotiate. The offseason is generally a more suitable period for such discussions.”

We are going to concentrate on the football aspect. While I’m not dismissing any possibilities, I would say the outcome is likely already determined.

Chase sat out of OTAs because of the contract, but showed up for mandatory minicamp, suggesting Chase might report on time for camp with the understanding the Bengals are focused on taking care of him — eventually.

Bengals veterans report on Tuesday.