Insider Reveals Record-Setting Price Tag for Ja'Marr Chase

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Sean Treppedi | Last updated Feb 19, 2025 2:02 PM ET

It's no secret that the Cincinnati Bengals are going to have to dig deep into their pockets this offseason with major contract negotiations with star wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase on tap.

An added component is the pending decision on whether to keep or lose fellow wideout Tee Higgins, who the Bengals are working on a long-term deal with while avoiding a franchise tag.

Chase was close to an extension agreement amid last offseason, but ultimately chose to play out this season, which only benefitted the 2024 triple crown winner.

Fox Sports' Jordan Schultz reports that the Bengals are in for paying the highest price tag that any receiver has earned in the history of professional football.

"Cincinnati is staring at the league's first $40 million wide receiver. That's right: Chase will command at least $40 million per season," Schultz writes.

Schultz believes that this impacts how much money Higgins could have scored if he had been set free to sign elsewhere as opposed to possibly being tagged by Cincinnati.

"Meanwhile, league sources believe that Higgins, whom the Bengals are predictably tagging, could have gotten upwards of $30 million on the open market," Schultz said.

"A rising star who would surely be the No. 1 option on most teams, Higgins is just 26 years old and saved his best football to close the season. He also happens to be represented by Alliance Sports, the same agency representing Chase, which means all the leverage is on their side. The Bengals rarely break precedent on contracts, with Burrow inking $55 million a year as the most prominent exception (they sold naming rights for Paycor Stadium in the same year)."

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: