As the NFL gears up for another season, all eyes are on the Cincinnati Bengals and their star wide receiver, Tee Higgins. Set to play the 2024 NFL season under the franchise tag, Higgins will earn a fully guaranteed $21.8 million this year. Despite his significant contribution to the team, contract negotiations with the Bengals failed to produce a long-term extension before Monday's deadline.
Tee Higgins, known for his explosive playmaking ability, had expressed his desire for a trade back in March. However, the Bengals chose to retain their talented wide receiver, not acquiescing to his trade request. Expectations remain high as he prepares to report to training camp when veterans convene on July 23.
Franchise Tag Implications
Higgins playing under the franchise tag suggests several layers of strategic planning by the Bengals. The franchise tag ensures the player remains with the team while earning a premium salary but only for a single season. For the Bengals, this move keeps their offensive armory intact, especially with quarterback Joe Burrow recently secured via a five-year, $275 million extension that has made him the highest-paid player in the NFL.
Higgins has long been seen as a pivotal target for Burrow, with many assuming he would be part of the dynamic duo for years to come. However, this season could serve as a critical period for evaluating his long-term viability within the team's framework.
Salary Cap Considerations
With the Bengals opting not to trade Higgins, attention turns to other teams that might potentially offer him a new home. The New York Jets, for instance, have $6.254 million in cap space, a modest amount that could be expanded with some creative accounting. An insider suggests that while they "don't have a ton of cap space left to play with for this season, 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."
In comparison, the Washington Commanders and New England Patriots are better positioned financially, boasting $37 million and $43.763 million in cap space, respectively. More intriguing is the Los Angeles Chargers, who have $20.656 million in cap space this season and nearly $43 million projected for 2025. Given their financial flexibility, the Chargers emerge as a plausible destination should the Bengals reconsider their stance on trading Higgins.
Trade Market and Valuation
Another wrinkle in the unfolding narrative is the cost associated with acquiring a player of Higgins' caliber. According to another industry observer, "a trade and contract for Higgins will most certainly cost less than trading for [Davante] Adams." This implies that teams looking to bolster their receiver options might find Higgins to be a more financially viable target than other elite receivers currently under consideration.
Overall, Tee Higgins' upcoming season under the franchise tag keeps him firmly in the spotlight. As he steps onto the field this season, both fans and analysts will be keenly watching to see if his performance will prompt the Bengals to reconsider a long-term deal or open new doors via trade in the ever-evolving NFL landscape.