Ja'Marr Chase Rumors: Bengals Haven't Had 'a Whole Lot' of Contract Talks with Star

Ja'Marr Chase isn't due to hit free agency until 2026, but the Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver appears to be at a serious financial impasse with his team.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported during a live edition of his podcast that "there hasn't been a whole lot of conversation between the two sides."

The specter of a massive extension for Chase has loomed almost since his rookie season, when he had 1,455 receiving yards and made the Pro Bowl. The Bengals quickly discovered they had a special player, one who would eventually require a massive contract.

What Cincinnati may not have factored in at the time was the massive spike in the receiver market.

Heading into the 2021 season, only three wideouts were making $20 million-plus annually. Now, there are four pass-catchers collecting at least $30 million per year.

Chase, who has a $1.1 million base salary for 2024 and then a $21.8 million team option in 2025, is making things a bit awkward by staging a "hold-in." He's with the team at training camp but not actively participating.

Schefter raised the question of whether the 24-year-old would dig in his heels further and miss regular season games absent a long-term deal.

Earlier in the week, Dan Graziano of ESPN provided some additional context to the situation, explaining how the Bengals are typically stingy when it comes to guaranteed money on veteran extensions. They made an exception with quarterback Joe Burrow, and Chase could be looking for a similar structure with his next contract.

Cincinnati ponied up for Burrow, giving him $219 million guaranteed and making him the highest-paid player in the league. That was an encouraging sign when it came to the franchise's general willingness to pay what it takes to retain its best players.

How the saga with Chase concludes will provide a better picture on if the Bengals are truly shedding their longstanding reputation.