Tee Higgins: Franchise-tagged wide receiver Tee Higgins has taken a new step in his ongoing contract negotiations with the Cincinnati Bengals.
Reports from NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport and ESPN indicate that Higgins has officially requested a trade from the Bengals.
Initially, the Bengals aimed to retain the talented 25-year-old receiver, expressing their desire to sign him to a contract extension. This was highlighted by Bengals director of player personnel Duke Tobin’s comments two weeks ago during the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.
Tobin stated, “It’s really simple: He’s a good player, we want to keep him, and we have resources to do that, so we decided early to do it.” However, despite their intentions, Rapoport revealed that there have been no significant negotiations for a long-term contract.
The Bengals had previously tagged Higgins on February 26 with a one-year tender offer valued at approximately $21.8 million for the 2024 season. Both parties have until July 15 to negotiate a new long-term deal, although a trade could occur before then.
Last season, Higgins faced challenges due to injuries, missing five games and delivering his lowest statistical performance in his four-year career, tallying 42 receptions for 656 receiving yards and five touchdowns. Despite these setbacks, he managed to lead the Bengals with an average of 15.6 yards per catch and achieved a season-high of 140 receiving yards in a game against the Steelers in Week 16.
Throughout his career, Higgins has been a consistent performer, amassing 257 receptions for 3,684 yards and 24 touchdowns in 58 games, with 53 starts.
