Ja'Marr Chase Rumors: Bengals, Star WR 'Far Apart' In Contract Talks Amid Higgins Buzz

The Cincinnati Bengals and superstar wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase reportedly aren't yet close to reaching an agreement on a new contract.

According to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, the Bengals and Chase "remain far apart" in contract talks on the heels of Chase's dominant 2024 season.

Last week, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported that the Bengals wanted to make an attempt to sign Chase, wide receiver Tee Higgins and pass-rusher Trey Hendrickson to new deals this offseason.

Chase and Hendrickson each have one year remaining on their respective deals, while Higgins is set to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason.

The 25-year-old Chase is a four-time Pro Bowler and one-time First Team All-Pro through four NFL campaigns, and he is coming off the best campaign of his career.

In 2024, Chase set career highs with 127 receptions for 1,708 yards and 17 touchdown catches. He also won the receiving Triple Crown by leading the NFL in all three categories.

As a result, Chase finished third in NFL Offensive Player of the Year voting and eighth in NFL MVP voting.

Last year, Minnesota Vikings superstar Justin Jefferson set the market for NFL wideouts with a four-year, $140 million contract.

Jefferson, who was teammates with Chase at LSU, has the richest total contract and the highest average annual value among wide receivers at $35 million per year, according to Spotrac.

While Jefferson is dominant in his own right, his 103 catches for 1,533 yards and 10 touchdowns paled in comparison to what Chase did last season.

Chase attempted to secure a new contract last offseason by serving as a hold-in who did not practice with the team leading up to the start of the 2024 season.

He ultimately returned to practice and was back in time for Week 1, but it is difficult to envision Chase eschewing a new deal for a second consecutive offseason.

The Bengals still have time to get a deal done, but Higgins can become a free agent when the new league year starts on March 12, and a lack of clarity regarding Chase's contract could potentially impact Cincinnati's ability to reach an agreement with Higgins.