Things are unfolding about exactly as expected when it comes to a long-term extension for the Cincinnati Bengals and Ja’Marr Chase.
That’s even the case this week with Bengals executive vice president Katie Blackburn revealing at league meetings that the process has yet to really start.
“We haven’t started,” Blackburn said, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer’s Kelsey Conway. “That’s sort of the next thing is just to piece together some of those things to consider and give it some thought. And like I said, I can’t say for sure where any of it will go. But we certainly are going to study up on it and see what we can figure out to try to get the best result we can for the club one way or another.”
No great shock there — Chase himself told anyone who would listen back in January that he’s waiting on names like CeeDee Lamb and Justin Jefferson to get their new deals first.
Oh, and teammate Tee Higgins, too.
For Chase, there’s no rush — he benefits from waiting and letting guys with expiring contracts set the bar higher before he swoops in last. Maybe that’s this summer, maybe not.
For the Bengals, there’s no rush either — they can still pick up Chase’s fifth-year option, locking him down through 2025, with team-friendly options like franchise tags into 2026 if things hit a standstill.
It’s hard to imagine things reach that point though, as Chase has always felt like the No. 1 priority for the team at wideout. When Chase is ready, the Bengals will undoubtedly be ready, too.
More pressing right now is whether Higgins will report and sign the franchise tag as the team heads for another Jessie Bates-styled situation.
