Advertisement

The 5 star NFL wide receivers next up for big paydays, including Ja'Marr Chase

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (1) reacts after catch in the second quarter during an NFL football game between the Seattle Seahawks and the Cincinnati Bengals Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023, at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati.
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (1) reacts after catch in the second quarter during an NFL football game between the Seattle Seahawks and the Cincinnati Bengals Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023, at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati.

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk finally agreed to his monster extension with the franchise on Thursday, ending his long-standing holdout with the team.

Aiyuk is a very rich man now, and him reaching his new deal right on the heels of Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb signing his is going to speed up the extension market for other star players at the position.

It's always good with a couple of big contracts get done at the same position to look at who else might be in line for their respective paydays, and we've gathered five wide receivers who will have new contracts sooner than later.

Ja'Marr Chase 

Sep 25, 2023; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (1) runs through a route after an incomplete pass in the second quarter of the NFL Week 3 game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Los Angeles Rams at Paycor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Greene-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 25, 2023; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (1) runs through a route after an incomplete pass in the second quarter of the NFL Week 3 game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Los Angeles Rams at Paycor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Greene-USA TODAY Sports

Chase is in the midst of a hold-in with the Bengals, and we're assuming a new deal with one of the league's best receivers is only a matter of time right now. While quarterback Joe Burrow is the most valuable player on the team's roster, Chase is a close second. The team cannot go as far as it wants without him, so you can expect a massive deal will get done sooner than later.

Dec 31, 2023; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (5) gets his hand on a deep pass in the third quarter during a Week 17 NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Kansas City Chiefs at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kareem Elgazzar-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 31, 2023; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (5) gets his hand on a deep pass in the third quarter during a Week 17 NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Kansas City Chiefs at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kareem Elgazzar-USA TODAY Sports

Tee Higgins

Higgins, on the other hand, is a much trickier case for the Bengals. It's not impossible for Cincinnati to extend both players, but Higgins is understandably going to want top-flight money. If the Cincinnati season goes awry, it wouldn't be shocking to see the Bengals try to trade Higgins away for a first-round pick to a contender. If it goes well, then Cincinnati will be in the difficult spot to either negotiate an extension, a sign-and-trade with another team or watch Higgins walk as the most sought-after free agent at the position in some time. It's a good problem to have great players until it's time to pay them. Unless the team can get a deal done, the Bengals may have to make some hard decisions with Higgins when the time comes.

Feb 7, 2021; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin (14) makes a catch during the third quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LV at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports ORG XMIT: IMAGN-444308 ORIG FILE ID: 20210207_pjc_se2_770.JPG
Feb 7, 2021; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin (14) makes a catch during the third quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LV at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports ORG XMIT: IMAGN-444308 ORIG FILE ID: 20210207_pjc_se2_770.JPG

WR Chris Godwin 

After paying quarterback Baker Mayfield, wide receiver Mike Evans, tackle Tristan Wirfs and safety Antoine Winfield Jr. this offseason, Tampa Bay doesn't have much cap space at its disposal in 2025 and would have to restructure contracts and/or make tough cuts to make space for a new Godwin deal. Godwin could be the top receiver on some teams, and we have a feeling he'll want to cash in on his third professional contract. He could join Higgins as a hot commodity in free agency next spring if he leaves the Bucs.

CLEVELAND, OHIO - SEPTEMBER 22: Amari Cooper #2 of the Cleveland Browns makes a catch during the fourth quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers at FirstEnergy Stadium on September 22, 2022 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 775825759 ORIG FILE ID: 1426421016
CLEVELAND, OHIO - SEPTEMBER 22: Amari Cooper #2 of the Cleveland Browns makes a catch during the fourth quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers at FirstEnergy Stadium on September 22, 2022 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 775825759 ORIG FILE ID: 1426421016

WR Amari Cooper

The Browns have an absolute cap nightmare to suss through in 2025 and 2026 as the last two years of the Deshaun Watson contract takes its toll on the organization. Unless it wants to kick $33 million down the hill on Watson's deal on a restructure, it may not be able to hold onto Cooper at the contract number he's going to want. A new deal is coming Cooper's way at some point in the next year, and he could be a really popular trade target at the deadline if the Browns don't play well this season and start looking to the future.

Oct 1, 2023; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua (17) celebrates his game winning touchdown in the overtime against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 1, 2023; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua (17) celebrates his game winning touchdown in the overtime against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

WR Puka Nacua 

Nacua is the NFL's best bargain at the position, as the 2023 fifth-round pick exploded as one of the elite talents at the position and garnered the fourth-most receiving yards in the NFL. As he plays for the pass-happy Los Angeles Rams, his production is going to remain among the best in the league. While he's not set to be a free agent until 2027, it feels highly implausible that he's going to play out his deal before getting paid. For a player this talented and this productive, we doubt his management will have him playing at this low a contract for much longer. We bet a new deal gets done sooner than later... like after this season, honestly.

More NFL!

One detail from Brandon Aiyuk's new 49ers contract had NFL fans particularly stunned

The 49ers finally extending Brandon Aiyuk after his holdout ends the most pointless NFL saga

Matching 15 NFL free agents with new teams after 2024 roster cuts, including Kadarius Toney to the Raiders

This article originally appeared on For The Win: The 5 star NFL wide receivers next up for big paydays, including Ja'Marr Chase