Justin Jefferson Makes Thoughts Crystal Clear on Ja'Marr Chase Seeking More Money

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson didn’t mince words when discussing the possibility of his former college teammate, Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase, potentially earning more money than him in his next contract.

Jefferson recently secured a four-year, $140 million contract extension with $110 million guaranteed, making him the highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL.

However, Chase reportedly aims to surpass Jefferson's deal, with NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport confirming that his goal is to edge out Jefferson as the league's highest-paid wide receiver by a single cent.

In response, Jefferson addressed the situation on Kay Adams' “Up and Adams” show.

"I'm not gonna say what I really want to say," Jefferson said with a smile.

He quickly added that he would be happy for his former LSU teammate if Chase achieved his goal.

"It's always congratulations, and it's always love, especially on my end about my brother who is making good in this league," Jefferson shared. "We always talked about it in the receiver room at LSU."

Chase finished last season with 100 receptions for 1,216 yards and seven touchdowns in 16 games.

He’s been crucial to the Bengals' success since being drafted in 2021.

During training camp and the preseason, Chase has opted for a "hold-in," attending but not fully participating in practices to apply pressure on the Bengals for a new contract.

While Chase remains under contract through 2025, both sides are pushing to finalize an extension before the 2024 season begins.

However, negotiations have been tense, with reports suggesting that the situation could escalate if a deal isn’t reached soon, potentially leading to Chase missing the Bengals' Week 1 game against the New England Patriots on September 8.

Related: Ja'Marr Chase’s Contract 'Trajectory' Made Clear After Latest Report