NFL
By Jalen Willingham
Tee Higgins is deserving of a payday but many are unsure if it’ll come from the Bengals or not. Now that Joe Burrow has gotten paid, many people all around have speculated whether or not the Cincinnati Bengals will be able to retain Tee Higgins in the future.
In fact, many teams have been on the prowl ever since before the NFL Draft where Duke Tobin, director of player personnel spoke about Higgins. When asked if the Bengals would trade the 24-year-old receiver, Tobin said “Trading Tee Higgins is not on my mind.” He then gave a message specifically to teams in need of a receiver. Tobin said ” That’s their problem. They want a receiver, go find your own, you know? In my opinion, Tee Higgins is a good piece for the Cincinnati Bengals. The trade stuff is a little ridiculous right now.”
Many fans around the NFL have still been calling for their favorite teams to pursue the star wide receiver. When Higgins himself was asked about negotiations ahead of week one, he said “I have no clue. My job is to come in every day and do what I do best- work and catch the ball from No. 9.” Higgins has the right attitude that the team and fans would want. He wants to be a Bengal.
Higgins has no doubt been one of the best number two receivers in the league since being drafted. In three seasons, Higgins has 215 receptions, 3028 yards and 19 touchdowns.
Bengals receiver Tyler Boyd, who is the team’s longest-tenured player is very disappointed with how things have turned out for Tee Higgins. When asked about his situation, Boyd made it clear that “He got the short end of the stick. But he’s worth a lot. They have to come to some sort of agreement. I hope they get something done these next couple of weeks. Because Tee’s a guy that’s going to dominate each and every game. When his number is called, he always delivers.”
There have been reports saying that Tee Higgins and the Bengals won’t be negotiating in the season. This would kick things all the way to 2024 which is right when Higgins can hit free agency. A fifth-year option can’t be done here since he was taken in the second round in 2020. On top of all of this, there have even been rumors of people saying that Tee Higgins isn’t believed to be the Bengals’ future plans which is something I definitely don’t believe.
The Bengals may take the route that they took with Jessie Bates and decide to franchise-tag Higgins before taking time to work out a deal. How ironic that they also share the same agent, David Mulugheta.
Does this cause concern for the future of Ja’Marr Chase? I highly doubt it. The Bengals will find a way to pay Chase. Given that he was drafted in 2021, this also makes things easier for the Bengals’ salary cap situation as well. Higgins will be just $4 million against the cap for the Bengals in 2023.
The biggest concern is how they will go about paying Tee Higgins in the future of course. He is worth well over $20 million a year. Higgins agent may even push for $30 million. Cincinnati will certainly have to find ways to open Only time will tell what both the Bengals and Higgins end up doing.
