Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase has emerged as one of the best wide receivers in the NFL. Since entering the league as the No. 5 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, he has become an All-Pro and three-time Pro Bowler.
While Chase has become a household name and an elite receiver, does his contract reflect this? Let’s examine his contract, 2024 salary, net worth, and career earnings.
Ja’Marr Chase’s Contract and 2024 Salary
Chase is still on his rookie contract, so he’s currently one of the biggest bargains in the NFL. Despite his superstar production, his 2024 base salary is just $1,055,000 with a $4,943,571 signing bonus and a $3,807,679 roster bonus.
Chase’s cap hit is $9,806,250, which is 17th among all wide receivers this season. For comparison, Carolina Panthers wide receiver Adam Thielen ($9.9 million), Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Brandin Cooks ($10 million), and New York Jets wide receiver Allen Lazard ($12.1 million) are among the WRs with a larger cap hit than Chase.
Chase isn’t even the highest-paid wide receiver on the Bengals, as Tee Higgins is currently playing on the $21.8 million franchise tag.
Throughout training camp and the preseason, Chase held out in hopes of reaching an agreement on a new contract with the Bengals. While this strategy worked for Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb and San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, Chase didn’t ink a new deal before the start of the season.
It’s worth noting that Chase is under contract for the 2025 season on his fifth-year option that would pay him $21.82 million, so it’s not like he’s a pending free agent after this season. Considering Chase’s production and longtime relationship with Joe Burrow that dates back to their college days at LSU, it seems very likely that the two sides will figure out an extension after the season.
Chase is reportedly seeking a deal that would pay him around $35 million annually, which would make him one of the NFL’s highest-paid wide receivers alongside Minnesota Vikings star Justin Jefferson and Lamb.
Chase’s Net Worth and Career Earnings
Chase’s net worth is currently estimated to be $25 million. However, that number is sure to skyrocket once he inks his new deal.
Since Chase is still on his rookie deal, his career earnings are only $30,819,642. This is obviously a ton of money, but relatively speaking, it pales in comparison to what veteran wideouts are earning.
For reference, Kansas City Chiefs WR DeAndre Hopkins ($142.2 million), Houston Texans WR Stefon Diggs ($137.3 million), Buffalo Bills WR Amari Cooper ($136.6 million), and Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR Mike Evans ($133.3 million) have earned significant more.
Still, it’s worth noting that this $30.8 million figure is just from Chase’s NFL contracts. This doesn’t factor in his various endorsement deals with companies like Nike and Pepsi.
Chase has done well for himself, but he’ll really start earning the big bucks once he signs a lucrative extsnon