Organized Team Activities (OTAs) are set to kick off soon in Cincinnati and there will be a familiar face missing from the festivities. Tee Higgins, the Bengals star receiver heading into his fifth season, is not expected to attend OTAs.
To this point, he hasn’t signed his Franchise Tag. So, technically, he can’t attend even if he wants to.
Bengals Star Receiver To Skip OTAs
Objectively, this decision is not much of a surprise. OTAs are just that: optional. While it would be ideal that Higgins attends and gets back in the thick of things with Joe Burrow, OTAs are optional.
Higgins is reportedly not satisfied with the Bengals’ negotiations or lack thereof throughout this process. Cincinnati placed the Franchise Tag on the star receiver after reportedly not talking with Higgins or his camp about a contract extension for quite some time.
When the time did come to negotiate, the Bengals were unwilling to meet Higgins’ demands. While the former 33rd overall pick is not looking for WR1 money, he’s evidently a tad more expensive than the team would like.
Higgins’ Bengals Career Thus Far
Cincinnati Bengals At Kansas City Chiefs Afc Championship Jan 29 0386
When the Bengals Star receiver was selected in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft, there were high expectations. He took over as the top receiver in the offense with A.J. Green‘s best years behind him.
Higgins posted 908 yards and six touchdowns as a rookie. Then, he accounted for back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons despite playing WR2 to Ja’Marr Chase.
Last season, he was hampered by injuries and still managed 656 yards and five touchdowns.
Thus far, Higgins has averaged 63.5 yards per game and has scored a touchdown on 6% of his targets. For reference, Chase sits at 82.6 and 7%.
Look to Philly
The main issue within these situations is that fans and “fans” take the side of the billionaire owner and claim the team cannot pay for all of its weapons. Too often, the take is that Chase, Higgins, and Burrow can’t all get paid.
Considering the Philadelphia Eagles have their quarterback and both star receivers extended says otherwise. Not to mention the fact that Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce both have exorbitant contracts and the Chiefs are set to threepeat.
The fact of the matter is that the Bengals can do it. It’s just not their style. Plus, the team and Higgins’ agent historically don’t play well with one another.
Ideally, the two sides can get something together. As of now, only Higgins remains on a tag as all of the other Franchise Tagged players have been extended.
Higgins will play for the Bengals in 2024 one way or another. The Bengals star receiver is one of the best in the game and has the team primed for another Super Bowl run.
He just won’t participate in anything that isn’t mandatory. And, objectively, he probably shouldn’t.
