Local Reporter Suggests Cincinnati Bengals Star Wide Receiver's Asking Price

The Cincinnati Bengals do not often market what they're planning to do with players and their contract negotiations. Often, you'll see posts from big-name reporters when it comes to "what they're hearing" and most of the time, it's thanks to a player's agent feeding them info to create more leverage.

The Bengals and Ja'Marr Chase are marred in contract negotiations for an extension that isn't going to take hold until 2026. As a result, Chase did not participate at all during this year's Training Camp, instead "holding in." That is, of course, compared to a hold-out where he doesn't appear at all, Chase was physically at Training Camp for the majority of practices.

Local radio personality Austin Elmore revealed that on his ESPN1530 show, Local 12's Richard Skinner has heard what the Chase side of things is looking for in negotiations:

Chase and his representation are evidently asking for four years and around $160 million with about $120 million guaranteed. A $40 million average annual value (AAV) for a wide receiver - even one as good as Chase - would be eye-popping. That's quarterback money.

As Elmore, pointed out, Minnesota Vikings star Justin Jefferson was inked to a four-year, $140 million deal with $110 million guaranteed.

At this point, it could either just be a negotiation tactic by the Chase camp to leak this information to the local media (rather than the national guys like Adam Schefter). At the same time, those numbers could be legitimately what he's asking for, and is just trying to set the bar high with the hopes that even if he's talked down, it's still a bigger contract than his former LSU teammate.

Chase is one of the top receivers in the NFL, that much is certain. He's accounted for 3,717 yards and 29 touchdowns off 268 receptions in three years. He was the 2021 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and is a three-time Pro Bowl selection.

The Bengals would not have made it to the Super Bowl in 2021 without Chase and likely won't make it back without his services.

Ultimately, the Bengals have taken care of their star quarterbacks and wide receivers in recent memory. Carson Palmer and Chad Johnson both received contract extensions. Andy Dalton and A.J. Green were extended. Now that Joe Burrow was extended, it's Chase's turn.

While the general feeling is that Mike Brown and the Bengals are cheap, they've always taken care of their quarterbacks and WR1s.