Schefter: Bengals Had to Re-Do Ja'Marr Chase's Contract After Myles Garrett's Deal

The Cincinnati Bengals originally had a deal in place for between $37 million and $38 million per year for wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase, but a promise to make him the highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL changed those plans after Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett inked a four-year, $160 million contract extension ($40 million per season), per ESPN's Adam Schefter (22-minute mark).

"I was told that they had the makings of a deal in place for Ja'Marr Chase at about $37, $38 million per year, about a week or two earlier, and then Myles Garrett got his deal done at $40 million a year as the non-quarterback who became the highest paid player in football," Schefter began.

"And the Bengals already had said that they would make Ja'Marr Chase the highest-paid non-quarterback in football history, so even though they had the makings of a deal between 37 and 38, they had to go back to the table and update it after Myles Garrett's deal.

"So the Browns' deal with Garrett cost the Bengals on their deal with Ja'Marr Chase at a later date."

At his press conference on Tuesday, Chase acknowledged Garrett's deal "helped" him:

Cincinnati had the opportunity to land an extension with Chase last year. Chase notably took part of training camp off while hoping for a contract extension, but nothing ever materialized.

Chase proceeded to catch 127 passes for 1,708 yards and 17 touchdowns, leading all wide receivers in those categories. That certainly helped his contract cause and simultaneously hurt the Bengals, as Schefter noted.

"And if the Bengals had gotten the deal done a year ago, at that time Nick Bosa was the highest paid non-quarterback in football [$34 million]. Then they could have did it right after Justin Jefferson at [$35 million]. Then they could have did it before Myles Garrett, [$37 million, $38 million]. Then they did it after Garrett [$40.25 million]. By waiting, it was another $5 million-$6 million a year on average, which is a player or two."

Regardless of the circumstances, Chase is aboard on a four-year, $161 million extension, while the Bengals also got a deal done with Tee Higgins for four years and $115 million, per Schefter. They mark a pair of huge wins for the team as it searches to make the playoffs following two years outside the postseason.