Bengals’ Ja’Marr Chase Wants to Wait on New Contract Until Justin Jefferson Signs

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase said he is waiting on Minnesota Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson to sign a contract extension before he signs one of his own.

Chase, who is currently signed to a 4-year, $30.8 million contract through 2024, said he wants to get a contract extension taken care of this offseason, per The Enquirer’s Kelsey Conway.

“Lord knows I want to do that,” Chase said. “I mean, but we’ll see what happens.”

But first, he wants Jefferson to sign a contract extension — likely to raise his own asking price accordingly. According to Conway, when he was asked if Jefferson’s signing was a factor, he answered honestly.

“Hell yeah,” Chase said.

Jefferson has emerged as one of the top receivers in the NFL since signing his four-year, $13.1 million contract in 2020 in his rookie season. His contract extension will likely have a significant ripple effect on the wideout market, similar to Joe Burrow signing a five-year, $275 million contract two months after Justin Herbert signed his five-year $262 million extension.

The two receivers have had similar numbers this season, though Jefferson has missed a handful of games due to injury. Jefferson has recorded 882 yards and four touchdowns in nine games this season while Chase has notched 1,197 yards and seven touchdowns in 15 games.

While the financial aspect is certainly on Chase’s mind, the third-year receiver is also probably looking for bragging rights over Jefferson, who is his former LSU teammate.