Cincinnati Bengals superstar wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase has begun a holdout with the hope of receiving a contract extension before Week 1.
Ja’Mar Chase is entering the fourth year of his rookie deal, and he’s been eligible for an extension since the start of the offseason. Though extending quarterback Joe Burrow wasn’t an issue last year, owner Mike Brown and de facto GM Duke Tobin have failed to lock down Chase and fellow receiver Tee Higgins on long-term deals.
The Bengals would obviously rather keep Chase than have to trade him, but Brown has always been reluctant to spend big dollars compared to most other NFL owners. And Chase deserves something close to the four-year, $140 million pact that Justin Jefferson just signed with the Minnesota Vikings two months ago.
It will take an astronomical offer for the Bengals to consider parting with Chase. But what if a rival team put together an offer centering around another five-star wide receiver of their own?
The Dallas Cowboys have a contract holdout to resolve with star wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, who’s entering the fifth and final year of his rookie contract. If the Bengals and Cowboys are unable to extend their All-Pro playmakers before Week 1, how about the idea of a Chase-for-Lamb swap?
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Chase is one year younger than Lamb and under contract for one more season. So to balance out a Chase-for-Young swap, Dallas should offer Cincinnati a 2025 third-round draft pick.
Ja’Marr Chase & CeeDee Lamb Have Eerily Similar Production
Per Pro Football Reference, Ja’Marr Chase has averaged 6.0 receptions and 82.6 yards per game over his first three NFL seasons.
The 25-year-old Lamb has posted near-identical numbers, averaging 6.0 receptions and 78.0 yards per game through four seasons. Chase has 29 touchdowns since 2021. Lamb has 27 touchdowns.
Add it all up, and a Chase-for-Lamb trade actually makes sense for both parties if Cincy and Dallas don’t feel confident about extending their receivers long-term. With Dallas throwing in an extra third-round pick, the trade is even and fair for all parties.
Also Read: NFL Insider Drops Bombshell Update On Superstar WR Ceedee Lamb And The Dallas Cowboys
