A number of groups inquired in regards to the availability of franchise-tagged Bengals large receiver Tee Higgins, however Cincinnati’s urge for food for parting with the No. 2 receiver stays unclear, in keeping with stories.
Given the franchise tag for the second 12 months in a row, Higgins would lock in a one-year wage price $26.2 million if he indicators the tender provide from the Bengals.
Cincinnati’s public place has been Higgins just isn’t unavailable. The Bengals even have plenty of different contract conditions to handle.
The Bengals and Higgins have till July 15 to return to phrases on a long-term contract settlement. The commerce worth set beneath the phrases of the CBA on franchise tags could be two first-round draft picks.
Bengals director of participant personnel Duke Tobin mentioned final month on the NFL Scouting Mix the crew’s desire is to maintain Higgins.
However negotiations may very well be difficult with defensive finish Trey Hendrickson and All-Professional large receiver Ja’Marr Chase in line for brand new contracts. Cincinnati signed off on Hendrickson procuring his providers on Thursday.
Chase is getting into the ultimate 12 months of his contract and never anticipated to play subsequent season with out a new deal in place. The technique was employed by Dallas Cowboys large receiver CeeDee Lamb and San Francisco 49ers large receiver Brandon Aiyuk final summer season. In every case, the crew balked to finish the standoff and each gamers emerged with close to top-of-market long-term offers.
Higgins, 26, performed in 12 video games (9 begins) in 2024 and caught 10 TD passes with 73 receptions for 911 yards. He has 34 profession touchdowns, 330 catches and 4,595 yards in 70 regular-season video games (62 begins) since being chosen within the second spherical of the 2020 NFL Draft. The Bengals used the No. 1 choose in the identical draft to pick quarterback Joe Burrow, who mentioned he could be disenchanted if Higgins would not return.
Hendrickson, 30, led the NFL in sacks with 17.5 in 2024, the identical quantity he reached in 2023 after agreeing to a contract extension via 2025.
–Area Degree Media