Not Justin Jefferson or Tyreek Hill: this is who the NFL executives have named the top WR in the league
NFL coaches, executives and scouts are asked to vote for the league’s best players at each position and the best receiver in the league won in a landslide.
Money talks, and when it comes to Ja’Marr Chase and his record breaking contract, money is telling the truth. Chase signed a contract extension that makes him the highest paid non-quarterback in NFL history, and a new survey seems to agree with Cincinnati’s decision to show him the money.
Chase joins elite WR list
After winning the wide receiver triple crown last year, the Bengals coughed up a record setting contract to Joe Burrow’s favorite target at Paycor Stadium. Chase led the league with 127 catches, 1,708 yards and 17 TD to become just the fifth player to win the triple crown, joining Jerry Rice, Sterling Sharpe, Steve Smith Jr. and Cooper Kupp who did it in 2021.
Chase wanted a contract extension last year and there was even a threat of a potential holdout but the wide receiver was there for Week 1, but the Bengals got off to a terrible start to the season. Despite the teams troubles, he and Joe Burrow had career years although the Bengals missed the playoffs for the second straight year.
After signing Burrow to a long term contract last year, the Bengals turned their attention to his favorite targets. They agreed to contract extensions with not just Chase, but his wide out partner Tee Higgins. Chase singed a four-year, $161 million dollar deal which will bring him in an average of over $40 million a year. Higgins got a four-year extension worth $115 million which will keep the trio in the Queen City for the long term.
Bengals chasing playoff return
Chase edged out Justin Jefferson of the Minnesota Vikings and Tyreek Hill of the Miami Dolphins for the title of the best wide receiver in the league. According to the ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler who had access to the votes made by coaches, scouts and executives around the league, the race wasn’t that close.
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The NFL’s highest paid non-QB earned about 70% of the first place votes. While the debate has been and should be relatively even, there is no debated that Chase had the better year last year. He had 24 more catches, for 175 more yards and 7 more touchdowns than Jefferson, although Jefferson and the Vikings made the playoffs.
That’s what the Bengals will be hoping to do this year after spiraling out of the playoffs for the last two years. It wasn’t too long ago that the Bengals were in the Super Bowl with their second year QB, and with Chase in his rookie year.