Amon-Ra St. Brown falls out of top-5 highest-paid WRs with the new Ja'Marr Chase contract

"Timing is everything."

That axiom gets thrown around a lot in market-based economics, and it's certainly proving true for the Detroit Lions and wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown. Monday's massive new contract agreement between the Cincinnati Bengals and star wideout JaMarr Chase drives home the point.

Chase and the Bengals agreed to a record-setting new deal worth $161 million over four years, blowing away the previous top salary ever paid to a wide receiver. The $40.25 million per year average is $10 million per season higher than the lucrative extension St. Brown signed with the Lions just before the 2024 NFL Draft in Detroit. At the time, the deal made St. Brown the highest-paid wide receiver in NFL history.

That time has come and now seems long gone.

In fact, since St. Brown signed that deal last April 24th, he's fallen from 1st on the average-per-year contract value down to sixth for wideouts. St. Brown's four-year, $120.01 million deal ($30.01M per year) got eclipsed the very next day when A.J. Brown and the Eagles inked a three-year, $96 million ($32M per year) extension. Also topping St. Brown in average-per-year salaries with fresh deals since "Saint" signed in Detroit:

Justin Jefferson, Vikings: 4 years, $140 million ($36M per year), signed June 3rd

CeeDee Lamb, Cowboys: 4 years, $136 million ($34M per year), signed August 26th

DK Metcalf, Steelers: 4 years, $132 million ($33M per year), signed on March 9th following his trade from Seattle to Pittsburgh

The price tag for great players never gets smaller. It's a good lesson for the Lions to apply to potential upcoming contract extensions with EDGE Aidan Hutchinson and S Kerby Joseph.

Chase earned the record contract coming off one of the greatest seasons by a wide receiver in NFL history. He won the receiving triple crown, topping the league in catches (127), receiving yards (1,708) and TDs (17). St. Brown had an incredible All-Pro season of his own, catching 115 passes for 1,263 yards and 12 TDs for the Lions.

This article originally appeared on Lions Wire: Lions St. Brown contract keeps looking better after latest WR deals

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