A big offseason storyline for the Cincinnati Bengals is how they will handle Ja’Marr Chase’s upcoming second contract. As a first-round pick, he’s already had his fifth-year option picked up, which will pay him $21.8 million next season, but it’s clear he is worth much more than that.
His quarterback, Joe Burrow, has made it clear he wants his favorite weapon to get paid, but it’s ultimately up to a stingy Bengals front office to get a deal done. The delay of a new contract has brought some NFL legends out of the woodwork to recruit the star receiver, getting fans excited about a potential blockbuster free agent.
Is Ja’Marr Chase Hinting at Eli Manning’s Recruitment?
Cincinnati’s offense was outstanding in 2024, finishing No. 7 in PFN’s Offense+ metric with an 83.4 (B) grade, and Chase played a huge part in that. He led the league with 1,708 receiving yards, 127 receptions, and 17 receiving touchdowns, winning the receiving triple crown in the process.
Chase has eclipsed 1,000 yards each year of his career and has quickly become one of the league’s few truly elite receivers. Understandably, Burrow wants both him and Tee Higgins back in black and orange for the long haul.
According to OverTheCap, Justin Jefferson is the NFL’s highest-paid receiver, making $35 million a year with a total contract value of $140 million. It would be a surprise if Chase did not surpass that number with his next contract
Yes, they paid Burrow, but ongoing contract issues with Higgins should be a red flag for Chase. Higgins would be a No. 1 receiving option for most teams, but there’s been little movement on a long-term deal. He made $21.8 million under the franchise tag in 2024, but not agreeing to a new contract is a bad precedent to set, as Chase’s deal expires after next season.
Enter outside recruitment by Eli Manning. Chase recently took to X and mentioned Manning in a tweet saying, “@EliManning don’t forget our lil convo. I’ll be waiting.” Manning coached the NFC team at Sunday’s Pro Bowl.
ELI MANNING RECRUITING JA’MARR CHASE TO THE #GIANTS…
👀👀👀
Chase and Malik Nabers, both LSU legends, would feed families together. pic.twitter.com/0IUp1e9q4c
— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) February 3, 2025
It’s possible this was just an acknowledgment of some minor encounter. It’s also possible Chase is recognizing a pitch from the Giants legend for him to play in New York. If so, the thought of Chase and fellow LSU product Malik Nabers on the field together is exciting.
Nabers was selected sixth overall by the Giants in last year’s draft and was the lone bright spot for New York’s offense in 2024. His rookie numbers were exceptional, gaining 1,204 yards on 109 receptions with seven touchdowns. That was done while catching balls from Daniel Jones, Drew Lock, and Tommy DeVito, further proving the bulletproof nature of his game.
Chase and Nabers never overlapped at LSU as Chase and Jefferson did, but pairing them together in New York would make the Giants one of the best supporting casts in the league and a boost to whoever winds up under center.