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Ben Child, ESPN Employees Author
CINCINNATI — The Cincinnati Bengals made maybe the simplest determination they will have all week, choosing up the fifth-year possibility on broad receiver Ja’Marr Chase’s rookie deal.
The deal, introduced at some point earlier than the NFL draft, ensures Chase’s fifth-year wage for the 2025 season will probably be absolutely assured. The choice yr will carry an estimated worth of $21.8 million, based on a projection from OverTheCap.com.
Chase, the fifth total decide within the 2021 draft, has proved not solely that Cincinnati made the precise selection in pairing him with Joe Burrow, his faculty quarterback at LSU, but in addition that he’s among the many league’s greatest receivers. Chase has reached the Professional Bowl in every of his first three NFL seasons, which has led to an additional $7.5 million on his rookie possibility.
Because the begin of the 2021 season, Chase is tied for third within the league in receiving touchdowns (29) and is seventh in complete receiving yards (3,717), based on ESPN Stats & Data information. He additionally holds the franchise report for many receiving yards in a single recreation (266) and a single season (1,455), each of which have been set throughout his rookie season.
Chase is at the moment eligible for a contract extension and is trying to be paid close to the highest of a market that’s beginning to acquire some motion. On Wednesday, Detroit Lions broad receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown agreed to phrases on a brand new contract that gave him $77 million in assured cash, essentially the most for a receiver in NFL historical past. Brown, a fourth-round decide in 2021, is behind Chase in complete receiving yards since he entered the league.
Minnesota Vikings broad receiver Justin Jefferson, who was additionally at LSU with Burrow and Chase when the Tigers gained the nationwide championship in January 2020, has essentially the most receiving yards of any extension-eligible receiver at the moment on a rookie contract, based on ESPN Stats & Information information. Jefferson, a first-round choice in 2020, has but to obtain a contract extension, however Chase is following.
“I have to see some extra numbers from him,” Chase stated with a smile when requested in regards to the scenario forward of the Bengals’ win over the Vikings this previous December.