Ja’Marr Chase Sends Not-So-Subtle Message to Bengals in Instagram Post

Kristen Wong | Mar 10, 2025

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (1) acknowledges fans during warmups before the game against the Cleveland Browns at Paycor Stadium. / Katie Stratman-Imagn Images

The Cincinnati Bengals have dragged their feet on extending star wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase, and it could cost them big-time.

Chase, who is entering the final year of his rookie deal, has made clear that he is seeking a long-term contract with the Bengals, going so far as to stage a holdout last offseason. Locking up the 25-year-old for the foreseeable future would appear to be Cincinnati's top priority after the organization franchise-tagged Tee Higgins and granted Trey Hendrickson permission to seek a trade.

However, the longer the Bengals wait on Chase, the more it's going to cost them.

On Sunday, Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett became the highest paid non-quarterback in NFL history after securing a historic four-year deal averaging $40 million a year.

One day later, Chase shared a post on his Instagram account that seemed to be in response to Garrett's monster deal.

Chase posted a series of photos on Monday, the last of which was a picture of a calculator that had the following six-word message: "Know your worth then add tax."

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Ja’Marr Chase (@lahjay10_)

Bengals director of player personnel Duke Tobin said earlier this offseason that the team planned to make Chase the highest-paid non-quarterback in the league. Whether Tobin follows through with that promise remains to be seen.

For what it's worth, Tobin also said the Bengals would work toward a long-term agreement with Higgins and Hendrickson—a month later, the former has received the franchise tag while the latter has one foot out the door.

Expect contract tensions between Chase and the Bengals to only heighten from here.

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