Ja’Marr Chase is giving the Bengals some side-eye.
Cincinnati’s star receiver posted a photo Monday to his Instagram Story of quarterback Joe Burrow displaying some serious side-eye with a “What?” caption while tagging fellow receiver Tee Higgins after Cincinnati used the franchise tag on Higgins on Tuesday.
While Chase didn’t hide his message with the photo, the reasoning behind it is a little uncertain.
It’s possible that he may be a little confused by the Bengals using the franchise tag on Higgins when they’ve stated their hope of signing him to a long-term deal.
A franchise tag can be a temporary placeholder before a long-term deal, but it can also just be a one-year contract.
The Bengals have until July 15 to reach a long-term deal or Higgins will receive $26.2 million — if he signs the franchise tender.
Higgins, Chase and Burrow have made it clear that they hope to play together for years to come and the front office claims it shares that vision.
The Bengals also used the franchise tag on Higgins, 26, last year.
“Tee Higgins is a fantastic football player and I want him on my football team, whenever I’m in charge of a football team I want Tee Higgins. I’m going to do what I can to get Tee Higgins,” Bengals director of player personnel Duke Tobin said at the NFL combine last week. “Our preference with Tee Higgins is to do a long-term agreement, always has been and it continues to be and we’ll work hard to get that done.”
Another theory is that Chase may be curious what this will mean for his future.
Chase, 25, is entering his fourth season and has made it known that he expects a long-term deal that reflects his standing as perhaps the game’s top receiver.
The former LSU star held out during camp last year before returning for Week 1 and then won the receiving triple crown with 127 catches, 1,708 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns.
Tobin confirmed that the Bengals plan to make Chase the highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL, although there seemingly is a difference in what Chase feels the number should be and where the team is willing to go since a deal has not yet been negotiated.
Bengals owner Mike Brown is known for being one of the cheaper owners in the league.
If the Bengals can sign either Chase or Higgins to a long-term deal, it will help them know what they can allot for the other player.
Cincinnati is also trying to extend 2024 sacks champion Trey Hendrickson.
“Ja’Marr is always going to. be our priority,” Tobin said. “He’s a fantastic football player. He’s going to end up being the No. 1-paid non-quarterback in the league. We’re there. Let’s get it done. The earlier we can do this stuff, the freer it gives us to build the rest of the team.”
