The Cincinnati Bengals are coming off a thrilling Monday night win over the Dallas Cowboys. Star wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase caught 14 passes for 177 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winner.
The win improved the Bengals to 5-8, but they remain on the outside looking in regarding the AFC playoff picture. Don’t blame Chase or quarterback Joe Burrow, though. Both are having phenomenal seasons, but Chase is doing it while unhappy with his contract.
Cincinnati and Chase could not agree to terms on an extension before the season, and his price has only increased since. Chase, who has a cap number of $9.8 million, is playing this season while leading the NFL in all major receiving categories.
Meanwhile, his former LSU teammate, Justin Jefferson, became the NFL’s highest-paid receiver in the offseason, signing a four-year, $140 million deal, resetting the top of the receiver market.
There’s also the case of Tee Higgins. Cincinnati’s other star receiver played on the franchise tag this year and will be a free agent in the offseason. Chase has one year remaining on his rookie deal as the Bengals picked up his rookie fifth-year option.
Cincinnati has received trade offers for Higgins but has refused to deal him. The Bengals have always refused to trade a player, even when it makes sense.
Could the Bengals actually trade Chase instead of paying him a record contract? Remember, Burrow signed a five-year, $275 million extension in 2023. Do the notoriously thrifty Bengals want to pay Chase a quarterback-like salary?
Matt Verderame of Sports Illustrated has an idea: Cincinnati should trade Chase and names two teams as potential trade partners: The Washington Commanders and the New England Patriots.
The Commanders and Patriots have a rookie quarterback, a wide receiver need, and plenty of salary cap room. Could you imagine Washington acquiring Chase to go with Jayden Daniels and Terry McLaurin? It would certainly further accelerate the Commanders’ Super Bowl timeline.
Looking around the NFL, there are a few teams I believe make the most sense. The New England Patriots and Washington Commanders are both intriguing, as each has extra draft picks, ample cap space and a rookie quarterback who needs more skill-position talent to reach his full potential.
Washington would send two first-round picks and more to the Bengals in this hypothetical trade. Chase is certainly worth it, but we aren’t sure the Bengals would be willing to trade one of the NFL’s top two wide receivers.
Commanders general manager Adam Peters likes to keep his draft picks as there remains plenty of work to do on Washington’s roster. But would Peters consider such a move for one of the NFL’s top stars while he has Daniels on a rookie contract?
The trade possibilities sound fun, but Cincinnati is not trading Chase. And in this case, the Bengals shouldn’t trade him and find a way to him and keep him and Burrow together. Cincinnati should have moved Higgins in the offseason.
