Speaking to reporters during the 2025 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Cincinnati Bengals director of player personnel Duke Tobin said that they are ready to make wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase the highest-paid non-quarterback in the National Football League. ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter also tweeted about Tobin’s statement.
In that case, the Bengals could offer a contract with a higher annual value than Justin Jefferson’s four-year, $140 million contract. Before Jefferson, the 17 highest-paid players are all quarterbacks, with Derek Carr having an annual average of $37.5 million.
Chase deserves a massive extension as he has taken the league by storm while playing under his four-year, $30.8 million rookie scale contract. He never went below 1,046 receiving yards in his four seasons with the Bengals and established a single-season rookie record of 1,455 receiving yards in 2021.
Bengals director of player personnel Duke Tobin said Cincinnati is preparing to make WR Ja’Marr Chase the highest-paid non-QB in the NFL. “We’re going to reward Ja’Marr,” Tobin told reporters today at the Indianapolis scouting combine. pic.twitter.com/29DsBGEzy9
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 25, 2025
Last season, Chase earned a First-Team All-Pro selection after leading the league in receptions (127), receiving yards (1,708), touchdowns (17), and receiving yards per game (100.5). Those numbers earned him votes for Offensive Player of the Year and Most Valuable Player.
In addition to his All-Pro nods, Chase has been a Pro Bowler in all four NFL seasons. Before his massive contract extension kicks in, he will play under the fifth-year option of his rookie contract, earning him $21.8 million.
With the Bengals ready to give the big bag to Chase, it would be interesting to see how they would fit his salary with quarterback Joe Burrow’s five-year, $275 million contract. Likewise, they must consider Tee Higgins’ contract, if they will also offer him a long-term deal.
-Lance Fernandez