A massive trade proposal has the Cincinnati Bengals setting the NFL on fireworks by dealing superstar wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase.
The 24-year-old Ja’Marr Chase is holding out in hopes of securing a long-term extension before he begins the fourth year of his rookie contract. Chase has been eligible for a new deal since the start of the offseason, though he’s still under contract through 2025.
Cincinnati obviously prefers to keep Chase long-term, but de facto GM Duke Tobin and owner Mike Brown may have no choice but to deal the All-Pro wide receiver if they can’t make progress on extension talks.
Bleacher Report’s Alex Kay proposed four blockbuster trade packages for Chase. One of those ideas would see the Bengals stun the NFL by sending him to the AFC North rival Pittsburgh Steelers in exchange for 2025 first, third and fourth-round picks:
“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.”
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The Steelers heavily pursued a trade for San Francisco 49ers star Brandon Aiyuk, but the All-Pro wide receiver agreed to a four-year contract extension worth $120 million earlier this week.
Pittsburgh needs another playmaking receiver after trading former Pro Bowler Diontae Johnson to the Carolina Panthers. Ja’Marr Chase, a top-five receiver in the game, would certainly fill that void and make the Steelers a legitimate Super Bowl contender.
In 16 games last season, Chase caught 100 passes (a personal best) for 1,216 yards and seven touchdowns.
Bengals Will Likely Pay Ja’Marr Chase
Though Mike Brown has a reputation for being cheap compared to most other NFL owners, he had no issue paying Joe Burrow top dollar last year. So it’s likely only a matter of time until Brown and Chase reach an agreement on a new deal.
Cincinnati seems poised to move on from fellow star wideout Tee Higgins (he’s playing 2024 under the franchise tag) next year. If they’re not going to pay Higgins, one can only assume that the Bengals are saving that money to pay their No. 1 receiver in Ja’Marr Chase.
