When Joe Burrow has Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins by his side, he’s one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. Take one away, and what happens to the Cincinnati Bengals’ explosive scoring attack? We might be on the verge of that discovery, based on what happens with Higgins this offseason in free agency.
Higgins has racked up two 1,000-yard seasons since becoming a second-round pick by the Bengals in 2020, and while he’s no longer viewed as the best receiver on his team, he’s still an extremely valuable part of the team. However, there are several other teams who could use a playmaking 6-foot-4 wideout like Higgins too.
Related: 3 best Tee Higgins free agent destinations for Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver
Cincinnati Bengals may not have the cap space to re-sign Tee Higgins
Without a long-term contract in place, Tee Higgins has become the subject of trade rumors dating back to last season. Yet, the Cincinnati Bengals have always maintained the attitude that he’s not available.
Now that Higgins is entering free agency, the Bengals no longer have the same control over his future, and as one might expect, several teams will have interest in signing the 25-year-old.
Not to mention, the Bengals will also be prioritizing getting Ja’Marr Chase’s contract extension done, since he will be eligible to sign a long-term agreement for the first time since being selected fifth overall in 2021.
On Tuesday, when Bengals director of player personnel Duke Tobin addressed the media at the Senior Bowl, he opted to address several concerns regarding Cincinnati’s offseason plan and how they’d spend their cap space. While doing so, Tobin admitted there are only so many great players a team can afford at one time.
“We like Ja’Marr. He’s in our long-term plans. He’s a high-level player in this league. And we want to keep those kinds of players on our team. I want Tee Higgins back. Everyone on our team would like Tee Higgins back. There’s a pie and there are things we can do and can’t do because of it. We’ll see.”
Cincinnati Bengals’ Duke Tobin on Tee Higgins free agency
As Tobin mentioned, that pie is only so big, and while the Bengals would like to keep every talented player they ever come across, that’s not always possible. A lot likely depends on how much other teams are willing to offer Higgins, in addition to how Chase’s contract extension gets structured, but there could very well be a way everyone ends up happy in Cincinnati. Or, the alternative, which includes Higgins finding a new team while becoming one of the highest-paid receivers in the NFL.
