Cincinnati’s 2023 season didn’t finish how they’d supposed it to. Joe Burrow suffered a wrist harm and missed the ultimate six video games of the common season. The Bengals nonetheless completed 9-8 however they didn’t make the postseason. One main storyline for the Bengals this offseason has been WR Tee Higgins.
In February, the group introduced they had been going to make use of the franchise tag on Higgins for the 2024 season. Just a few weeks later, Higgins knowledgeable the group he needed to be traded. Cincinnati needed to work with Higgins this offseason to try to get a deal finished. Or not less than persuade him to remain for the 2024. At his youth soccer camp in April, Higgins advised the media he plans to play for the Bengals this upcoming season. Yesterday was the deadline to get a long-term deal signed, Leaving Higgins to play on the franchise tag in 2024.
The 2024 season might find yourself being Tee Higgins’ ultimate yr with the Bengals
From The Insiders on @NFLNetwork: #Bengals WR Tee Higgins will play on the franchise tag, which implies all 9 gamers who had been tagged have seen their conditions come to a conclusion (for this yr, not less than). pic.twitter.com/yId3wxCIw7
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) July 15, 2024
Tee Higgins was in a novel scenario this offseason. Of the 9 gamers who had been designated to a franchise tag in March, he was the one participant to not obtain a long-term extension. Carolina traded Brian Burns and the Chiefs traded L’Jarious Sneed. Each gamers signed long-term offers with their new respective groups. In line with the CBA, Higgins just isn’t eligible to signal a contract extension till the tip of the 2024 season. His 2024 marketing campaign shall be an enormous yr to find out the place Higgins will play in 2025 and what kind of contract he’ll get.
To begin his NFL profession, Tee Higgins was a second-round decide by the Bengals out of Clemson. The 25-year-old simply completed his fourth season with the group and the worst of his professional profession so far. Higgins performed in a career-low 12 video games and made 11 begins. His 42 receptions for 656 yards and 5 touchdowns had been all profession lows. Regardless of his down season in 2023, the Bengals know they’ve a playmaker in Tee Higgins. He’s a superb complement to Professional Bowl WR Ja’Marr Chase.
“Tee Higgins was the one participant to be franchise tagged this offseason who didn’t get a long run deal..
Perhaps he’ll depart Cincinnati after this season” ~ @AdamSchefter #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/Py411Pfmc7
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) July 15, 2024
The Bengals know the kind of manufacturing they’ll get from Tee Higgins when he’s at his greatest. He had back-to-back seasons in 2021 and 2022 with 1,000+ receiving yards. Cincinnati would like to see their playmaking WR have one other productive season like that. In all honesty, the group wants Higgins to be that kind of WR once more with Tyler Boyd parting with the Bengals this offseason. The group did draft Alabama’s Jermaine Burton within the third spherical. If Higgins just isn’t taking part in as much as his commonplace, Burton might see a much bigger function as a rookie.