It has been an expensive offseason for star wideouts around the league, with 11 receivers earning a combined $1.05 billion over 38 years, while Cincinnati Bengals WR Ja’Marr Chase and San Fransisco 49ers’ WR Brandon Aiyuk have still yet to sign on the dotted line.
While Chase recorded 100 receptions for 1,216 yards and seven touchdowns in the 2023 NFL season, he played most of the Bengals without former Heisman-winning QB Joe Burrow. Burrow missed the final seven games of 2023 after suffering a torn ligament in his wrist on Thursday, October 16, 2023, in the Bengals 34-20 loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
With #Vikings WR Justin Jefferson and #Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb each signing record-breaking contracts, will this open the door for #Bengals WR Jamar Chase to demand more $ in his contract extension?
— Miles Jordan (@Miles\\\_Jordan\\\_) August 27, 2024
Chase has recorded three straight 80+ reception and 1,000+ receiving yard… https://t.co/124vDWnHQr
In his three NFL seasons since being drafted No. 5 overall in 2021, Chase has recorded 1,000+ receiving yard seasons, helped lead the Bengals to the Super Bowl in 2022, and has been a dangerous weapon for Burrow, his college teammate from LSU.
Brandon Aiyuk’s offseason has been slightly more newsworthy than Chase’s, as it was reported that Aiyuk requested a trade from the 49ers before the start of training camp in June 2024. The 26-year-old receiver has one year remaining on his rookie contract, where his fifth-year option is set to pay him $14.124 million in the 2024 NFL season. The purpose of Aiyuk’s trade request was to eventually seek an extension, which would roughly double the value of his fifth-year option in the form of an annual salary.
Aiyuk’s teammate, All-Pro LT Trent Williams, is also seeking a contract extension with San Fransico, arguably one of the main reasons Aiyuk’s contract negotiations have not been resolved. It has been rumored that Williams will not return to the 49ers’ camp until his contract situation is resolved, putting the hot seat on the 49ers’ organization to resign two of their most valuable players.
As of Monday, August 26, Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb became the 11th receiver to sign a new extension, earning himself $136 million over four years for an average of $34 million annually. Lamb also received a $38 million signing bonus, bringing his total to $174 million, the highest-paid non-QB in NFL history, including his signing bonus.
After months of negotiating, including missing mandatory mini-camp, the #Cowboys have rewarded Lamb with $34 million annually over the next four years.
— Miles Jordan (@Miles\\\_Jordan\\\_) August 26, 2024
My Story @Thepredictors_ https://t.co/cOFMiXmegW https://t.co/ASWyeecSfW
Here is a complete list of the 11 receivers and the details of their contracts:
- CeeDee Lamb: 4-years, $136M, $34M annually
- Justin Jefferson: 4-years, $140M, $35M annually
- DJ Moore: 4-years, $110M, 27.5M annually
- Amon-Ra St. Brown: 4-years, $120.01M, 30M annually
- A.J. Brown: 3-years, $92M, 36.6M annually
- Jaylen Waddle: 3-years, $84.75M, 28.25M annually
- Nico Collins: 3-years, $72.75M, 24.5M annually
- DeVonta Smith: 3-years, $75M, $25M annually
- Michael Pittman: 3-years, $70M, 23.3M annually
- Calvin Ridley: 4-years, $92M, 23M annually
- Jerry Jeudy: 3-years, $52.5M, 17.5M annually
As opening weekend for the NFL continues to creep closer, questions are raised as to why Chase and Aiyuk have yet to sign an extension. As the value of receivers seems to have risen over the 2024 offseason, with Lamb, Jefferson, and St. Brown each receiving $30+ million a year over four years, are Chase and Aiyuk considered valuable enough assets to earn a nine-figure contract?
