Star wide receiver Tee Higgins is set to don a Cincinnati Bengals uniform for at least one more season, and it will be under the franchise tag for 2024. Contract negotiations aimed at securing Higgins for the long-term failed to bear fruit before Monday's deadline, leaving the receiver to play out his season with a fully guaranteed $21.8 million.
Franchise Tag and Training Camp
The franchise tag situation carries significant implications for the Bengals and Higgins alike. Notably, this move ensures Higgins will be available to quarterback Joe Burrow, whom the Bengals recently made the highest-paid player in the NFL with a staggering five-year, $275 million extension. Burrow and Higgins have developed a potent on-field chemistry that many assumed would make Higgins a top target of Burrow's for years to come.
In spite of the franchise tag, the Bengals have managed to keep one of their major offensive weapons in-house, at least for the upcoming season. Higgins will report to training camp when veterans convene on July 23, unfazed by the unresolved contract situation.
Trade Request and Team Response
While it may appear that all is calm on the surface, tensions have simmered under the hood. Higgins requested a trade in March, a move that raised eyebrows across the league. However, the Bengals were resolute and did not acquiesce to his trade request. The franchise tag buys them time, but it also prolongs uncertainty around Higgins' long-term future in Cincinnati.
Salary Cap Realities
Several teams around the league have kept a keen eye on Higgins' situation, calculating their own salary cap space and contemplating the feasibility of a trade. The New York Jets, for instance, have $6.254 million in cap space for the season—a sum that pales in comparison to what Higgins might command. Nonetheless, "The New York Jets don't have a ton of cap space left to play with for this season, but they could get creative in their accounting for a Higgins extension by providing him with a massive signing bonus and backloading his contract to defer larger cap hits to future years."
The Washington Commanders and the New England Patriots, with $37 million and $43.763 million in cap space respectively, are in a much better financial position to entertain adding a player of Higgins' caliber. As for the Los Angeles Chargers, they have $20.656 million in cap space this season and are projected to have nearly $43 million in 2025, making them also a plausible suitor.
Potential Trade Scenarios
Given the common knowledge that Adams' trade and contract demands might be steeper, one quote highlights the allure of Higgins as a trade target: "A trade and contract for Higgins will most certainly cost less than trading for Adams."
With several teams potentially considering him a more financially viable option, the coming months could see intensified interest in the wide receiver market. Teams with greater cap flexibility and forward-thinking management could bank on Higgins’ immediate impact, much like the Bengals have done, potentially leading to substantial negotiations down the line.
Conclusion
For now, Higgins' immediate future is resolved—he will stay with the Bengals for the 2024 season under the franchise tag. Yet, this situation remains fluid, with trade requests and future contract negotiations setting the stage for what promises to be a drama-filled NFL storyline. The Bengals’ front office, Higgins, and interested franchises all face a crucial period that will shape the long-term prospects of one of the league's rising stars.