4 NFL Trade Packages the Bengals Would Have to Consider for Ja'Marr Chase
The Cincinnati Bengals' failure to get a contract extension done with Ja'Marr Chase is starting to border on worrisome. The star wideout had been holding in throughout training camp and recently skipped a practice entirely, an absence that head coach Zac Taylor refused to comment on.
With the start of the 2024 NFL season drawing near, the Bengals are running out of time to get a long-term deal done with one of the bigger stars in franchise history. While the idea of splitting up Chase and longtime quarterback Joe Burrow may have seemed laughable going into the offseason, there does seem to be at least a chance the organization entertains trade offers rather than risk an extended holdout.
Even with the contract drama swirling around Chase, it won't be easy for rival organizations to pry him away from the Bengals. Few players in the league are truly untouchable, however, and the right offer could sway Cincinnati's brass into making a deal.
With that in mind, here are some trade packages the team would at least have to consider for Chase.
Cleveland Browns
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Cincinnati Bengals receive: 2025 first-round pick, 2025 fourth-round pick, WR Amari Cooper
Cleveland Browns receive: WR Ja'Marr Chase
After making an unexpected playoff berth last year, the Cleveland Browns have been looking to take another leap by adding a young, top-flight receiver into the mix this offseason. The team reportedly made a run at Brandon Aiyuk, going as far to put a pair of draft picks and veteran wideout Amari Cooper on the table in exchange for the rising San Francisco 49ers star.
While the Browns couldn't nab Aiyuk due to Cleveland not being one of his preferred destinations, the team should remain aggressive and go after another elite talent in Ja'Marr Chase.
Cleveland would need to up the stakes significantly to get their fellow Ohio franchise to not immediately balk. At a minimum, the Browns would need to add a first-round pick in the package. It certainly wouldn't hurt to keep Cooper in there as well, as his presence would at least slightly offset the blow of losing Chase in the near-term.
Throw in a late-Day 2 or early-Day 3 pick and you have a pretty strong starting point for a Chase deal. It's still not a trade the Bengals should want to make, but if they simply can't come to terms on a suitable extension for the fourth-year superstar, it may be the best route to take.
Green Bay Packers
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Cincinnati Bengals receive: 2025 first-round pick, 2025 third-round pick, WR Christian Watson
Green Bay Packers receive: WR Ja'Marr Chase
Thanks to Jordan Love's emergence as a franchise quarterback, the Green Bay Packers came out of the 2023 campaign with hopes of contending for years to come. While the team has a bright future, the Packers could expedite their championship window and improve their Super Bowl odds significantly by bringing aboard one of the game's best receivers in Ja'Marr Chase.
Green Bay has plenty of quality receivers on the roster, but none have broken out as a true No. 1 star. The team had four different wideouts record at least 28 catches for 422 yards and four touchdowns last year, but leading receiver Jayden Reed's 64 receptions for 793 yards and eight scores leaves a bit to be desired.
Chase would immediately establish himself as the go-to option in the Packers' system. He's put up over 1,000 yards and hauled in at least 81 balls in all three of his NFL seasons, including in 2022 when he appeared in just 12 games due to injury.
Green Bay could tender a respectable offer to the Bengals by giving up one of their promising young wideouts—as well as several draft picks—in return for Chase. Christian Watson would likely be the most desirable of the bunch, plus removing him from the equation clears a potential logjam on the outside.
In 23 games across his first two NFL seasons, Watson has caught 69 catches for 1,033 yards and 12 touchdowns. While those aren't Chase-like figures, they are still strong for a player who has yet to enter his prime and has missed 11 contests due to injury.
If the Bengals cannot find a way to get an extension hammered out with Chase, bringing in Watson and two quality draft picks could position them well for the future.
New England Patriots
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Cincinnati Bengals receive: 2025 first-round pick, 2025 third-round pick, WR Demario Douglas
New England Patriots receive: WR Ja'Marr Chase
The New England Patriots have shown they are serious about their desire to add a superstar receiver to the roster this offseason. While a trade hasn't materialized, that hasn't stopped the organization from putting some significant offers on the table for wideouts like Brandon Aiyuk.
According to The Athletic's Dianna Russini on the Scoop City podcast (h/t Yahoo! Sports), New England reportedly had a contract ready for Aiyuk to sign that would pay him $32 million annually in addition to compensation the 49ers were "OK with" to make the move happen.
While Aiyuk turned down the deal due to his desire to play for a contender, it wouldn't be a surprise if the cap-flush organization tries to strike a deal for Chase if the Bengals made him available.
The Pats would need to be willing to shell out quite a bit more per year for Chase, who is likely seeking an extension similar in value to the historic one Justin Jefferson inked early in the offseason. New England could become an enticing destination for Chase if the organization is willing to match the four-year, $140 million deal the Minnesota Vikings gave their prized receiver.
Even with Ja'Lynn Polk and Javon Baker—second- and fourth-round draft selections in 2024—now in the mix, Chase would elevate New England's offense to new heights and give the club a true No. 1 receiver for the first time in years. Considering the Patriots haven't employed a receiver as gifted as Chase since Randy Moss left in 2010, that would be money well spent.
Considering New England just landed an additional Round 3 pick in the Matthew Judon trade, the team can easily afford to ship first- and third-round selections over to the Bengals in exchange for Chase. Adding Demario Douglas, the team's top producing wideout as a rookie last year, should sweeten the pot a bit too.
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Pittsburgh Steelers
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Cincinnati Bengals receive: 2025 first-round pick, 2025 third-round pick, 2025 fourth-round pick
Pittsburgh Steelers receive: WR Ja'Marr Chase
The Pittsburgh Steelers have been prominently pursuing big name receivers this offseason. They reportedly put a pair of Day 2 picks on the table to try and lure Brandon Aiyuk away from the San Francisco 49ers, although that likely would not be enough to land a receiver of Ja'Marr Chase's caliber.
If the Steelers are serious about augmenting Russell Wilson, George Pickens and Pat Freiermuth with a top-flight wideout, they shouldn't hesitate to offer a package to Cincinnati headlined by a first-round pick along with some mid-round selections.
Chase has earned that value after three consecutively strong seasons to open his NFL career. Since being drafted No. 5 overall in 2021, the wideout has appeared in 45 games and racked up 268 receptions for 3,717 yards and 29 touchdowns. Aiyuk has similar numbers (269 catches for 3,931 yards and 25 scores), but it took him 17 more contests to reach those marks.
Chase has also earned Offensive Rookie of the Year honors and has been a Pro Bowler in all three seasons, a distinction Aiyuk has yet to earn.
The finances make Chase a better value as well. He's due just over $1 million in salary for the upcoming season and even his 2025 pay is still a relative bargain at $21.8 million. Chase will only become truly expensive when his extension kicks in for the 2026 campaign and beyond.
In comparison, Aiyuk will be making $14.1 million for the upcoming season before his salary shoots up significantly based on whatever contract he eventually signs for the 2025 season.
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