Bengals, Tee Higgins Far Apart On Contract Extension Talks As Patriots Bid Was Accepted
The Cincinnati Bengals want to keep Tee Higgins, but he doesn’t seem to be on the same page with them.
Zac Taylor has repeatedly talked about his desire to keep him on board for the long run, but both sides continue to be far apart on a contract extension.
Higgins acknowledged that he’s likely going to be forced to play on the franchise tag before hitting free agency in 2025.
According to a report by Kelsey Conway of the Cincinnati Enquirer (via ProFootballTalk), the offer the Bengals made him “never approached” the $20 million per year range, which is why his brass didn’t even discuss guaranteed money.
The report adds that it’s been more than a year since both parties last talked.
The franchise tag gives Higgins $21.8 million, which is fully guaranteed for the upcoming campaign.
The report states that he wants something close to what Michael Pittman, Terry McLaurin, and Deebo Samuel are making, which is close to $23 million per season.
That sounds reasonable for a 25-year-old rising star with a history of being reliable and productive.
He’s had two 1,000-yard seasons for the organization, totaling 257 receptions for 3,684 yards and 24 touchdowns in four years since entering the league as a second-round pick, and that’s despite sharing touches with Ja’Marr Chase and Tyler Boyd.
Higgins posted career lows due to an injured rib last season, hauling in just 42 receptions for 656 yards and five scores.
Even so, he could get plenty of money in free agency, and the Bengals might consider trading him before letting him walk away.
The Cincinnati Bengals are a team that has gotten some solid contributors from unexpected places before and had undrafted free agents make the team multiple times in the past.
While punter Austin McNamara and linebacker Aaron Casey likely have the best chances of making the Bengals’ 2024 roster, they arguably don’t have the best long-term upside.
The guys with the best long-term upside are two Division III players: Wisconsin-Platteville defensive end Justin Blazek and SUNY Cortland wide receiver Cole Burgess. These two players dominated against their competition in Division III and then, in pro days, showcased excellent athleticism.
The main thing holding them back is the jump in competition quality from Division III to the NFL and how loaded the Bengals are at both positions.
First let’s take a look at wide receiver and how Burgess looks to fit with the team long term.
The 6-foot, 200-pound Burgess caught 87 passes for 1,375 yards and 16 touchdowns in his final season of college football. With the Bengals’ addition of Jermaine Burton in the third round, it seems like the wide receiver room is full for 2024.
If the Bengals have space, they could roster a seventh wide receiver, but it seems more likely for Burgess that he tries to make the practice squad for 2024, bulks up and gets NFL reps, and then makes a push for the roster in 2025 when the Bengals could have potentially lost Tee Higgins and Trenton Irwin.
As for Blazek, the 6-foot-5, 244-pound defender racked up 118 tackles, 29 tackles for loss, and 17.5 sacks over his last two seasons (21 games). He’s facing an equally crowded defensive end room and has an even tougher road to the roster as he is likely behind day 3 pick Cedric Johnson, who is not even a lock to make the roster.
