The Cincinnati Bengals may be on the cusp of moving on from one of Joe Burrow's most explosive weapons and one of the offense's field-stretching playmakers in Tee Higgins.
Monday, prior to the legal tampering period beginning, Bengals star wide receiver Tee Higgins requested a trade. Cincinnati previously applied the franchise tag on Higgins in an effort to work out a contract extension, but it appears that those talks have stalled.
ESPN's Adam Schefter shared news of the trade request via X.
Bengals franchise WR Tee Higgins has requested a trade, per sources. Higgins loves Cincinnati and hoped to be with the team long term, but is disappointed that the team has not had any talks about a long-term contract extension since March 2023. He?s ready to move on to a new? pic.twitter.com/T0qy7uMu8n
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 11, 2024
Higgins is coming off a 2023 season in which he battled through a hamstring injury that sidelined him for three weeks, while still catching 42 passes for 656 yards with five touchdowns while still showcasing his ability as a deep threat by averaging a career-high 15.6 yards per reception.
Through his first four seasons, Higgins has pulled down 257 receptions for 3,684 yards and 24 touchdowns playing opposite All-Pro Ja'Marr Chase in quarterback Joe Burrow's arsenal. The franchise tag is set to pay receivers $21.8 million, which could be near the starting price for any future Higgins negotiations.
There are several teams where Higgins could be an ideal fit, and who have the resources to pull off a blockbuster trade for the Bengals star.
Chicago Bears
The Bears appear primed to select USC's Caleb Williams with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Surrounding the young quarterback they hope becomes the face of the franchise for the next decade with game-altering weapons should be a top priority for general manager Ryan Poles. Chicago is well-positioned, with $63.8 million in cap space to fit a Higgins contract under the cap, and could potentially a draft pick as high as the No. 9 overall selection to outbid most suitors. Pairing Higgins opposite star D.J. Moore would give Williams one of the most prolific wide receivers in the sport to walk into as he begins his NFL career.
New York Giants
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Giants general manager Joe Schoen is entering a pivotal third season, and while the Giants are in the quarterback market — after hosting Russell Wilson for an exploratory visit, adding playmakers on offense is a likely next step in New York's rebuild. Especially if running back Saquon Barkley is elsewhere in 2024, the Giants are going to need potentially elite weapons for the offense to be productive. According to The Athletic, the Giants hosted Ohio State standout Marvin Harrison Jr. for a pre-draft visit, which underscores the organization's desire to upgrade the receiver position. Higgins would do exactly that.
Carolina Panthers
Carolina might be Higgins' ideal fit from a need and scheme perspective. New head coach Dave Canales was the Buccaneers' offensive coordinator in 2023 as Mike Evans caught 79 passes for 1,255 yards while catching 13 touchdowns, one shy of a career-high, at age 30. Few things matter more to the Pathers' trajectory as a franchise than facilitating Bryce Young making strides in his development, and adding a reliable and dynamic wide receiver to his supporting cast would go a long way. Higgins is the type of player capable of elevating an offense, as underscored by Bengals quarterbacks posting a 103.2 passer rating when targeting him last season, and 5.6 yards after the catch per reception.
