so sad to leave: Wide receiver Tee Higgins deal with the Cincinnati Bengals has been terminated due to..
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins is the last player who received the franchise tag this offseason and has yet to agree to a new deal. Higgins hasn’t even signed his franchise tender, which makes him ineligible to participate in OTAs. The Bengals and Higgins have until July 15th to reach an agreement on a new contract, but the likelihood of this happening is uncertain.
The Bengals’ decision to tag Higgins, one of the league’s top No. 2 wide receivers, was understandable. However, he’s poised for a substantial payday that the Bengals might be hesitant to offer. Last year, Cincinnati made Joe Burrow the highest-paid quarterback in the league, and they also need to consider the upcoming contract extension for Ja’Marr Chase. It’s possible this could be Higgins’ final season with the Bengals. Even one of his teammates is unsure if the team can afford to keep him.
“I’m hoping I can gain confidence from the coaches,” Bengals wide receiver Andrei Iosivas told ESPN. “I’m not sure if they can pay Tee. He’ll probably get a lot of money. He’s a really good receiver. Hopefully, I can step into that role.”
Higgins has reportedly requested a trade but also stated he expects to play for the Bengals in 2024. Spotrac projects that Higgins is in line for a multi-year deal averaging $19.7 million per year, but his eventual contract could be worth even more.
Higgins, the 33rd overall pick out of Clemson in 2020, has posted back-to-back 1,000-yard receiving seasons in 2021 and 2022. His 3,684 career receiving yards are the sixth-most in Bengals franchise history through four NFL seasons. With the July deadline approaching, a positive step would be Higgins signing his franchise tender.
