The Cincinnati Bengals finished their 2024 campaign with a 9-8 record and failed to make the postseason for the second year in a row. However, this year definitely felt worse with quarterback Joe Burrow playing all 17 games.
Cincinnati has plenty of talented players on their roster, but they’ll have to make some financial decisions in the near future that could change the foundation of their team going forward.
The Bengals are expected to use the franchise tag on wide receiver Tee Higgins if they can’t come to a long-term deal, and if that’s the case, they may end up sending him elsewhere in a trade.
On Friday, ESPN’s Aaron Schatz predicted that the Buffalo Bills could acquire Higgins in a deal this offseason with an offer that would “blow the Bengals out of the water.”
“Higgins is a No. 1 receiver in search of a No. 1 opportunity,” Schatz wrote. “Meanwhile, the Bills need a No. 1 receiver. They need someone quarterback Josh Allen can depend on; someone they can confidently go to on third down to move the chains. Khalil Shakir had 821 yards last season, but he’s a slot receiver. They didn’t have an outside receiver with more than 600 yards. Higgins would fit perfectly as the leader of their wide receiver room and give them what they need to finally reach the Super Bowl.”
Higgins, 26, played collegiately at Clemson from 2017-19. He won a national championship in 2018 and earned All-ACC honors in his final two seasons at the school.
The Bengals selected Higgins in the second round of the 2020 NFL draft, and he’s been incredible since then. Over his five seasons in Cincinnati, Higgins has appeared in 70 games, catching 330 passes for 4,594 yards and 34 touchdowns.
While he’s been the No. 2 in Cincinnati since they took Ja’Marr Chase in 2021, many believe that Higgins could be the top option on a team if given the chance.
At this point, the Bengals haven’t locked up either Higgins or Chase long-term and they have to keep at least one of them around to keep Burrow satisfied. Chase is obviously the more talented of the duo, but he’ll also be the more expensive.
If they can get valuable assets (players or picks) in return for Higgins, and then turn around and immediately pay Chase, that may be their best option.
MORE BENGALS NEWS
3 more cuts Bengals should make after Sheldon Ranins to clear $23.3 million
Cincinnati Bengals’ update cap space after cutting Sheldon Rankins loose
Broncos predicted to shore up big need with Bengals $24 million free agent
Chiefs projected $49 million free agent could soon leave for Bengals
Read the full article here
