It's not always a given the highest-paid player at his position is also considered the best, but Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase has a pretty strong case.
Chase was statistically the best receiver in the NFL during the 2024 season, leading everyone in receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns on his way to the triple crown and an All-Pro nod. He did it all while facing double teams, prioritized coverage, and without a long-term contract despite his efforts to secure one during training camp.
It's this context that stands out in the mind of former NFL wideout Chris Hogan.
Chris Hogan endorses Ja'Marr Chase as NFL's best wide receiver
Chase dominating in 2024 stood out to Hogan for all the obvious on-field reasons, but doing so while putting potential contract distractions to the side was the first thing that came to his mind in a recent conversation with "This is Football" host Kevin Clark.
"I mean, what he did last year with all the outside noise of the contract situation? There was a lot at stake there last season, and he goes out, wins the triple crown." Hogan said of Chase to . "I mean, guy was seemingly unstoppable all season long. And you know that he's getting double-teamed, you know that he's got the best guy on him every single week, week in and week out, and he just continued to perform and to put up numbers. And it was really fun to watch him play last year. I enjoyed watching him."
Why Chris Hogan thinks Ja'Marr Chase is the best receiver in football, and what Joe Burrow does with Chase that reminds him of Tom Brady's connection with his receivers.
"They are just so in-sync with each other and it's tough to get to that point." pic.twitter.com/vvRpQutlJi— Kevin Clark (@bykevinclark) June 10, 2025
Hogan was an NFL receiver for nine years, including a three-year stint with the New England Patriots in which he earned two Super Bowl rings with Tom Brady. Lasting on that team meant doing all the little things correctly, whether or not you were a star player. Hogan was far from that distinction, but he appreciates a star like Chase for his professionalism and attention to detail.
"I think that he's a tremendous route runner, but I think he plays the game the right way. I really do," Hogan said. "I mean, he seems like a professional the way that he comes out, you know, he's not in the media complaining about targets. I mean, listen, he's getting his targets. He's Joe's guy, right? So he's going to get his targets, but he's not that guy that's going to be outspoken. He had a lot of stuff going on with all of his contract situation, but like, you forgot about it last year because he just came out and played and he earned what he got, like tenfold, because of how he performed all season long."
Hogan's last season was Chase's first in 2021. The game has been blessed with so many elite receiving talents in the time since that the title of best receiver could feasibly change from player to player every year. For now, Chase is Hogan's guy.
"Until someone can outperform him for 17 games that were into the playoffs and do what he did for the last year. He's got the belt for sure."
