Ja’Marr Chase has an exciting idea for the team’s offense. Now that the WR’s contract extension is in the bag, and he is locked in with Cincy till 2030, he has found himself a fun little side gig. Chase is now playing recruiter for the Bengals, and he is not tossing around any random names. He is thinking big. On the other side, Zac Taylor is in the middle of some serious business at the NFL Annual Meeting. The Bengals‘ HC just gave the latest update about defensive star Trey Hendrickson. But more on that later. First, whose name is on Ja’Marr’s mind to add to the Bengals roster?

Well, Chase is trying to recruit his good buddy Justin Jefferson to join him on the Bengals. Ja’Marr and Jefferson played together on the LSU Tigers. And the WR is doing it while playing Call of Duty. During a live stream, the Bengals’ star wide receiver tossed out the idea to his viewers, joking, “Hey Chad, I could get Justin to come to the Bengals, y’all.” Now, if you’re a fan of these two, this statement is like music to your ears. And it would make Joe Burrow’s job a whole lot easier.

But before you start dreaming of having the LSU alums on the Cincy squad, just remember that Jefferson signed a four-year extension worth $140 million with the Vikings last year. So, it sounds good, but it’s practically impossible for now. The live stream was full of banter, with Chase having fun with his buddies, tossing around playful jabs. 

It looks like the WR is having quite a blast in the offseason with the recent paycheck he pocketed during his contract extension. “A huge plus that we’re not having the hold-in with Ja’Marr like last season. So there’s not that periphery distraction overall,” noted Cincy’s OL Ted Karras. 

Now, shifting gears to Trey Hendrickson, the Bengals’ standout DE is looking to cash in big.

Trey Hendrickson’s future in Cincy: What’s next?

Trey Hendrickson will be a free agent in 2026. And now, after Tee Higgins’s and Ja’Marr Chase’s contracts, the DE is looking for a big deal. Talking about Trey at the NFL annual meetings, coach Zac Taylor said, “I think he’s one of the premier pass rushers in this league. Teams have to throw a lot of attention to him as they start their game plan each week. A guy who works his tail off, day in and day out, 365 days a year, which I appreciate. So we’ll continue to work through the process with Trey.”

The Bengals have already spent a lot of cash on Chase and Tee, signing a $161 million contract and a $115 million contract. And now it’s Trey’s time for the reward. As per reports, the DE is hoping to secure a contract worth more than $30 million per year. Trey will pocket $16 million this year, which is the final year of the deal he signed with the Bengals in 2023. The 30-year-old recorded 17.5 sacks and 33 solo tackles in the 2024 season.

Drafted in 2017, Hendrickson started his NFL journey wearing Saints colors. He joined Cincinnati in 2021, and since then, he has made it to the Pro Bowl every year. Now, as per reports, the Bengals are expected to offer the DE an extension. HC Zac Taylor said, “be patient” while discussing his contract situation at the NFL Annual Meeting. So, we’ll have to wait and see how, when, and what the Bengals do with Trey Hendrickson’s deal.