Chad Johnson says Ja’Marr Chase‘s pockets is about to be a complete lot fatter … telling TMZ Sports activities he is certain Cincinnati goes to provide the wideout a brand new contract value “north of” $40 million PER YEAR!!

Chase, after all, has been on the lookout for a redone deal from the Bengals for some time … however now that he is formally getting into his closing season earlier than free company, Johnson tells us a fats payday is close to.

Ochocinco says if the Bengals had gotten it completed earlier than this previous season, they may have paid him roughly $30-$35 million a season. However now, after he led the league in yards, catches and receiving touchdowns — he is anticipating it’s going to be rather more.

“They determine to attend, he wins a goddamn triple crown, and now you have to pay double,” he mentioned. “Yesterday’s value will not be right now’s value.”

For the Bengals’ half, they appear to be resigned to giving Chase the massive determine — as director of participant personnel Duke Tobin advised media final month they absolutely anticipated making him “the No. 1 paid non-quarterback within the league” this 12 months.

As for Chase’s teammate, Tee Higgins, Johnson advised us he is anticipating some extra zeroes on the younger wideout’s paychecks quickly — explaining he deserves a take care of no “hometown reductions” from right here.

“I would like him to get what’s truthful,” the Cincy legend mentioned. “You do not take hometown reductions on first contracts.”

Sadly for the Bengals, Johnson mentioned paying the receivers doubtless means they’re going to need to commerce star pass-rusher Trey Hendrickson … as a result of “it might be unimaginable” to make the numbers work.