Ja'Marr Chase was spotted on July 7, 2026, training side‑by‑side with Baltimore Ravens wideout Zay Flowers at Goldfeet’s Fort Lauderdale facility, a rare off‑season meetup of two AFC North rivals.
Why did the Bengals’ star join a Ravens receiver?
Both players are in the final stretch of their contracts and looking to lock down elite‑level production. Chase, coming off a 1,312‑yard, 10‑touchdown 2025 campaign, used the session to fine‑tune route precision that has made him a perennial Pro Bowl candidate. Flowers, entering his fourth year, hoped the competitive spark would push his numbers beyond the 1,200‑yard mark he posted last season.
Who else was on the training block?
The Goldfeet roster that day read like a who’s‑who of speedsters: Denver’s Jaylen Waddle, who posted a 9.84‑second 40‑yard dash in 2025, and several unnamed rookie receivers. The mix of veteran talent and hungry newcomers created a high‑intensity environment, forcing each participant to elevate his footwork and hand‑eye coordination.
What does this mean for the Bengals‑Ravens rivalry?
Seeing Chase and Flowers practice together blurs the usual divisional tension, but the underlying competition remains. Both aim to be the primary target for their quarterbacks—Joe Burrow and Lamar Jackson—so any edge gained here could translate into tighter games when the teams meet later in the season. The Bengals will likely lean on Chase’s deep‑ball threat, while the Ravens hope Flowers can match that explosiveness.
How might this affect future contracts?
Spotrac projects Chase could command a new three‑year, $115 million extension if he continues his upward trajectory. For Flowers, the Ravens exercised his fifth‑year option and analysts now peg a potential three‑year, $93 million deal if he breaks the WR1 ceiling. Training with elite peers adds a tangible data point for agents negotiating those figures.
What’s next for the players?
Both athletes return to team‑controlled workouts next week, but the Goldfeet experience will likely influence their offseason routines. Expect Chase to incorporate more press‑route drills, while Flowers may add deeper route concepts after observing Chase’s route tree. Their progress will be a storyline to watch as the AFC North kickoff approaches.
How does this session fit into the broader NFL offseason?
Off‑season training sites like Goldfeet have become hotbeds for cross‑team collaboration, offering players a chance to benchmark against the league’s best. The July 7 gathering underscores a growing trend: top receivers seeking marginal gains outside their own coaching staffs. As more athletes converge at these elite facilities, the overall talent pool in the NFL could see a noticeable uptick in skill level by the start of the 2026 season.