Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor provided an update on what the team plans to do with Tee Higgins in the upcoming season. Higgins has been the source of trade rumors after the Bengals applied the franchise tag to Tee Higgins.
Tee Higgins signed his franchise tender
Higgins requested a trade from the Bengals and chose not to sign his tender during OTAs. As previously discussed on GH, Higgins signed his franchise tender this weekend after the Bengals’ OTAs were finished:
Higgins used what little leverage he had by sitting out this spring. However, he seems willing to give in to the Bengals’ demands for the 2024 campaign. According to Ian Rapoport with the NFL Network, Higgins is set to sign his tender. He will be eligible to join the Bengals for training camp:
With #Bengals WR Tee Higgins signing his franchise tag today, it means he’ll show up for training camp with his teammates. He’s open to an extension off the tag, and we shall see if it happens. But he’s now locked in and under contract.
Rapoport thinks the dramatic rise in receiver pay will preclude the Bengals from being able to extend Higgins’ contract.
Some NFL fans were curious if Higgins signed the tender with the intention the Bengals would trade the star wide receiver to another team before the beginning of the season. That doesn’t appear to be the case.
The Cincinnati Bengals plan to keep Higgins this season
Per a statement by the Bengals on Monday, Taylor said the Bengals want to use Higgins’ services for the upcoming season:
“I’m excited to move forward with Tee,” said Bengals head coach Zac Taylor. “He’s done a great job handling his situation, and we are happy to get him back in the fold so we can start working toward a great 2024 season. The locker room will be excited to have him back around.”
All signs point to Higgins playing for the Bengals in 2024. If Joe Burrow can remain healthy, the Bengals will have a good chance of making a run at the Super Bowl. However, if Burrow gets hurt and the Bengals start the season off slow, all bets are off about a deadline trade involving Higgins.
Related: Joe Burrow hints that he’s thought about retiring due to injuries
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