Cincinnati Bengals star wide receiver Tee Higgins requested a trade from the team two weeks ago. Losing Higgins would be a massive blow to the team and star quarterback Joe Burrow; nonetheless, the team isn’t ignoring his request. ESPN’s Jeremey Fowler said the Bengals are willing to listen to trade offers for Higgins.
Fowler reported on SportsCenter on Saturday.
“He wants out, he has made the trade request. I talked to a few teams who are interested who believe that the Bengals are at least willing to listen. That’s a little softer than they might have been a year ago where they definitely were not trading him. So, teams are going to try to pry him out. New England’s been high-end shopping for receiver help, perhaps they try to give up a Day 2 pick to get Higgins.”
Fowler mentioned one of the teams interested in acquiring Higgins, the New England Patriots, a former AFC powerhouse. The Patriots could use all the help they could get. If the Bengals could get what they need and then some from the Patriots, maybe we could see Higgins don the navy blue and white in 2024.
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Cincinnati placed a franchise tag on Higgins on February 26th, more than a week before the March 5th deadline. The franchise tag was placed in hopes of getting ahead of the matter and discussing a long-term deal, or so we thought. Bengals head coach Zac Taylor told reporters at the NFL Combine nothing of the sort.
“He’s one of the top receivers in this league, and we don’t want that just walking out of the building. So when you’ve got an opportunity to put a tag on him and keep him in the building and let him play at least another season for us, I think that’s critical.”
Higgins requested a trade because he was disappointed in the franchise. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported the team and Higgins haven’t had any talks about a long-term contract since March 2023. It’s been a long time coming, as Higgins has done nothing but produce for Cincinnati.
While injuries dominated his 2023 season, his seasons prior were as good as he’s ever been. In his 2021 and 2022 seasons, he was tremendous, recording 148 receptions for 2120 yards, 13 touchdowns, and a catch percentage of 67.6% in 30 games and 28 starts.
The 25-year-old is seeking a long-term contract. If he won’t get that with the Bengals, he’ll seek it elsewhere. The former Clemson tiger still has a long way to go in his progression.
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.