Bengals Talk's Elise Jesse is hitting the pavement in New Orleans, LA throughout this week, catching up NFL names all over, including Bengals star wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase.
The two got into contract extension talks and Chase gave some insight into the numbers he expects on a new deal.
"It sounds good. It just sounds good though, I'm not going to say anything else," Chase responded to a potential $35 million per year deal before Jesse bumped it to $36 million. "That sounds better."
Chase would match Vikings star wide receiver Justin Jefferson's deal on the first number, and reset the market at the second, but context is important for worried Bengals fans regarding cap space for other players. Jefferson signed his deal with a total team salary cap set at $255.4 million while Spotrac projects the 2025 cap is projected to land at $275 million.
Jefferson took up 13.7% of the cap in that first year, while Chase (even at $36 million) would take up slightly less at 13.1%. It's a small difference, but every dollar counts in the pursuit of a title—and deals for multiple Bengals stars.
Check out the full exchange below:
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