The Cincinnati Bengals’ franchise-tagged wide receiver Tee Higgins has reportedly requested a trade after failing to reach an agreement on a new contract with the team.
The Bengals failed to agree fresh terms with Higgins ahead of the 2023 season and talks between the two parties have been deadlocked ever since.
Higgins, who caught 257 passes for 3,684 yards and 24 touchdowns in his first four campaigns with the team, only played 12 games during an injury-hit 2023 season and was set to hit free agency.
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The team tied Higgins down for 2024 by using the franchise tag on him last month, with director of player personnel Duke Tobin saying: “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.
“That’s where we are. We like Tee. We’re a better team with Tee. With the way we managed our cap, we had the ability to put the franchise tag on him, and we did.”
However, on Monday a report from ESPN claimed Higgins has requested a move, having been alienated by the lack of progress made in contract negotiations.
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Tobin did not completely rule out the prospect of trading Higgins at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis, saying: “He’s not under contract and it’s hard for me to predict all the different scenarios that could happen, but we feel strongly about Tee Higgins and his fit with us.”
Higgins will receive $21.8million under the franchise cap next season should he remain with the Bengals without signing a new long-term contract by mid-July.
The news that he wishes to depart will place plenty of teams on red alert, though, with the Kansas City Chiefs, Jacksonville Jaguars and Washington Commanders among those linked with a trade.
Tee Higgins has recorded +16.3 receptions over expected on targets of 10+ air yards since entering the NFL in 2020, 4th-most over that span and +0.8 receptions ahead of current teammate Ja’Marr Chase.#RuleTheJungle https://t.co/Ero4NZiBk1 pic.twitter.com/OcZ6kLb7uZ
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) March 11, 2024
