This offseason, the Cincinnati Bengals must make a choice on Tee Higgins. Will he be retained on the team through 2024 and given a franchise tag? Will they trade him elsewhere after franchise-tagging him? Or will they just let him go without giving him anything in return?
In the event that the Bengals organisation decides not to trade Higgins or reach a new contract, they will be responsible for approximately $20.7 million in damages. If he is dealt, that team will almost certainly sign him to a new contract, and it won’t be inexpensive (according to Spotrac, Higgins has a four-year market value of $74 million, with a salary of $18.6 million annually).
Given that Higgins is coming off of his worst year ever, these are impressive figures for him. Nevertheless, Brent Sobleski of Bleacher Report cautions that whoever decides to sign Higgins to a huge contract this offseason may come to regret it.
Will Tee Higgins leave whoever signs him with regrets?
Due to a hamstring injury, Higgins missed five games in 2023. Had he not persevered through a few games, he might have missed more time. With 42 receptions for 656 yards and five touchdowns at the end of the 2023 season, he set a career low for the former second-round choice. Both the injury and the fact that Joe Burrow was out of commission for the majority of the season (even in the early going) contributed to Higgins’ worst professional season.
Although Higgins’ supporters would like that he stay, it could be more prudent for the organisation to franchise tag him before trading him. In this manner, they will receive something in exchange for him and still have plenty of cash to hire some well-known people to support them in the trenches. It’s probably not the best idea to spend a significant amount of money on a quarterback and two receivers in this situation, but if the Bengals believe that’s what’s best, then fine.
