Ja’Marr Chase makes big decision on mandatory minicamp

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase (1) walks for the locker room after the fourth quarter of the NFL Week 3 game between the New York Jets and the Cincinnati Bengals at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., on Sunday, Sept. 25, 2022. Credit: Sam Greene/The Enquirer/USA TODAY NETWORK

Ja’Marr Chase is looking to become the next star wide receiver to sign a massive contract extension, but he is not holding out for a new deal — at least at the moment.

The Cincinnati Bengals began mandatory minicamp on Tuesday, and Ian Rapport of NFL Media reports that Chase was in attendance.

#Bengals star WR Ja'Marr Chase, who has skipped OTAs and wants a new contract, is present for mandatory minicamp, sources say. He was there for media day yesterday and is in the building today. pic.twitter.com/vxnjFTfIH1

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) June 11, 2024

Chase is in the fourth year of his rookie contract. He has a base salary of around $1 million in 2024 and is set to make $21.8 million next season after the Bengals exercised his fifth-year option. The former LSU star is hoping for an extension before that.

Justin Jefferson recently signed a 4-year, $140 million deal with the Minnesota Vikings to become the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history. AJ Brown and Amon-Ra St. Brown have also signed huge extensions this offseason, so it makes sense that Chase wants to capitalize on a hot wide receiver market.

Chase had a career-high 100 receptions last season despite Joe Burrow missing almost half the season with an injury. Chase has now gone over 1,000 yards receiving in each of his first three NFL seasons and has 29 total touchdowns. It is a matter of when, not if, he becomes one of the top-paid players at his position.