The Cincinnati Bengals have made many mistakes in recent years, with losing key talent like Jessie Bates and DJ Reader blatantly backfiring on the field as we speak.
But the biggest mistake might still be unfolding and have even bigger ramifications for years down the road.
The mistake, of course, is not getting Ja’Marr Chase’s contract extension done this past offseason and letting the saga seep into the regular season.
Rightfully, Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox just listed Cincinnati’s failure to pay Chase early as one of the top still-backfiring mistakes across the entire NFL:
While we’re unlikely to see another receiver top Jefferson’s deal between now and next offseason, we’re likely to see Chase gain even more leverage in contract negotiations.
The Bengals balking at Chase’s contract demands and not getting something done due to guarantees and structure of payouts was downright silly. While the team can use the threat of the franchise tag and such as leverage, kicking the can down the road to next offseason will cost the team even more as the market keeps increasing and he keeps playing like the best receiver in football.
Given how downright awful the defense looks right now, it’s clear the team will need to pour some money into it this offseason (and Trey Hendrickson already wants a new deal too, remember?). But the Bengals will have limited ability to put money into the defense if so much will have to go toward Chase’s extension.
Hence…the Bengals should have used the unexpected early window to get the Chase extension out of the way. It’s probably especially frustrating for fans because — on paper — the team didn’t pay Bates or Reader so that it could pay Joe Burrow, then Chase and potentially Tee Higgins, too. So far, the Bengals have done neither at wideout and the defense has suffered, with no relief on the way because so much money will need to go to Chase next summer.