Ja'Marr Chase on Justin Jefferson contract talks: 'I hope he sets the market for me'

Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson were one of the greatest receiving tandems in college football history during their time at LSU in helping propel the Tigers to a 2019 National Championship. Their success has continued in the National Football League and both receivers have set themselves apart as two of the very best players in the game today. Vikings’ wide receiver Justin Jefferson has been recently involved in contract extension talks with Minnesota’s front office and he’s likely to end up being the highest paid wideout in the game today. That’s exactly what Ja’Marr Chase wants, because that means he’ll get even more cash when his contract extension comes up soon. On Thursday afternoon, he spoke with the media about it at his locker.

“I’m hoping he sets the market for me. That’s what I’m hoping he does. Other than that, congratulations to what he’s got going on. I’m proud of him. Congratulations, brother,” Chase said.

Chase and Jefferson are in a league of their own

Bengals WR Tyler Boyd spoke with Charlie Goldsmith in an interview for The Cincinnati Enquirer about Chase’s development heading into his third season in the NFL. If nothing else, Chase has gotten better by acting more like a veteran in Cincinnati and his game and body have seen the benefits from it.

“Ja’Marr is just more polished about how he goes about his work day,” Boyd explained. “He doesn’t miss treatment, he’s not worrying about the wrong things outside of football. He gets here, is locked in, and does what he has to do before he gets on the field.

“Before? He used to just chill, sit around, and go play. Now, he takes things more seriously,” said Boyd. “He has become a vet. It’s the same thing with Tee (Higgins).”

If Chase takes another step as a pro? The AFC North and the NFL as a whole will have to take notice.

Over his first two seasons, Chase has caught 168 passes for just over 2,500 receiving yards and 22 touchdowns. That has given him the lead in all three categories for Cincinnati in that time and one of the best in the league during that same span.

He has been the key weapon for QB Joe Burrow as they, along with the rest of the Bengal’s cast, have taken the franchise to at least the AFC Championship in each of Chase’s seasons, including the Super Bowl when he was a rookie. Before that, Cincy hadn’t reached that level of success since 1988.

Chase has been one of the most dangerous players in the NFL as a target and once he gets the ball in his hands. With him becoming more mature based on Boyd’s words, though, he might just be ready to take it to a whole other level in his third campaign.

Justin Jefferson put together one of the best performances of his prolific career against the Buffalo Bills this season. Not only did he haul in 10 catches for 193 receiving yards (career-high in receiving yards) and a touchdown, but the former LSU star hauled in what many believed was one of the best catches in NFL history when he one-handed a ball in spectacular fashion. The historic catch earned his equipment a spot in Canton, Ohio in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The gloves and arm sleeve that he was wearing are in Canton and are currently on display in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Not only that, but according to Scott Hanson of NFL RedZone, he also tied former LSU star Odell Beckham Jr. and Lance Alworth for reaching 4,000 career receiving yards in the shortest amount of time (42 games).

Per Pro Football Focus, Jefferson has more receptions of 15-plus yards than any other receiver in the National Football League since 2019 (91 catches). The second most in that stat category is Davante Adams with 78 catches.

Both have established themselves as the top two receivers in the game today. It wouldn’t be surprising at all to see both players land massive, massive paydays when the time comes.

On3’s Sam Gillenwater also contributed to this article.