Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase became eligible for a second (much more lucrative) contract at the end of the 2023 season but negotiations with the front office "haven't started" according to Kelsey Conway of the Cincinnati Enquirer.

“That’s sort of the next thing is just to piece together some of those things to consider and give it some thought,” Bengals executive vice president Katie Blackburn told Conway.  “And like I said, I can’t say for sure where any of it will go. But we certainly are going to study up on it and see what we can figure out to try to get the best result we can for the club one way or another.”

In the meantime, the Bengals will certainly exercise Chase's fifth-year option for 2025.  And there is no doubt that he will eventually get paid considering his performance in the first three years of his NFL career.  Chase has recorded at least 1,000 yards receiving in each of his first three seasons. He has 268 receptions for 3,717 yards with 29 touchdowns in 45 games.