In 2024, the Cincinnati Bengals had one of the most frustrating seasons in recent memory. Joe Burrow was a bona fide MVP candidate, and Ja’Marr Chase led the league in receptions, receiving yards, and receiving TDs, but the defense was abysmal, ultimately causing the Bengals to miss the playoffs by a game.
However, 2025 will be the final year of Chase’s rookie contract, and the Bengals have yet to extend their most dangerous offensive player. Burrow made his thoughts known about what his favorite weapon needs to do to get paid.
Joe Burrow Lets the Bengals Know They Need To Pay Ja’Marr Chase
Cincinnati’s offense was prolific in 2024 finishing No. 7 in PFN’s Offense+ metric with an 83.4 (B) grade. Burrow led the league in passing yards (4,918) and touchdowns (43) while only throwing nine interceptions. He ranked No. 5 in PFN’s QB+ metric with an 88.5 (B+) grade and arguably would have been MVP had the Bengals made the playoffs.
Burrow bucked the trend for Cincinnati’s skill players by getting a contract extension before his rookie deal expired. The Bengals invested $275 million over five years for their star quarterback, and he thinks they need to show some other players the money.
Bengals QB Joe Burrow on ESPN on Ja’Marr Chase’s upcoming contract negotiation: “I don’t know what more he could show and do to prove himself. We have several guys like that, who have stepped up for us, and deserve to be paid—deserve to be paid what they’re worth.”
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) January 31, 2025
“I don’t know what more he could show and do to prove himself,” Burrow said about Chase’s upcoming contract negotiation. As a first-round pick Chase had his fifth-year option exercised by Cincinnati and will get paid just under $22 million next year fully guaranteed, according to Over the Cap.
He’s more than deserving of a monster deal having eclipsed 1,000 receiving yards each of his four seasons including a league-leading 1,708 in 2024. Chase also led the NFL in receptions (127) and receiving touchdowns (17) last season. He’s a game-changing player that deserves to be paid what he’s worth.
His quarterback couldn’t agree more saying, “We have several guys like that, who have stepped up for us, and deserve to be paid — deserve to be paid what they’re worth” — who could Burrow mean by “several guys”?
The Cincinnati quarterback is doing all he can to keep the band — himself, Chase, and Tee Higgins — together. Higgins is a No. 1 receiving option nearly everywhere in the league and has had his own contractual issues with the Bengals.
Being a second-round pick, Higgins didn’t have a fifth-year option that could be picked up, so he had to go through an awkward franchise tag situation last offseason resulting in a one-year, $21.8 million deal. There’s a strong chance Higgins will either be tagged again or the Bengals will let him walk, where he’d be one of the most sought-after players this Spring.
If they let Higgins test free agency there’s an exciting in-state option available in the 2025 NFL Draft, but Cincinnati could be right back in the same place in a few years. Burrow wants both of his top receiving options back next season, but the Bengals’ front office has historically been stingy with big contracts.
