Cincinnati Bengals’ wide receiver, Tee Higgins, has formally requested a trade. This development came just hours before the opening of the ‘legal tampering’ free agency window on Monday.
𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚: #Bengals WR Tee Higgins has requested a trade, per @AdamSchefter pic.twitter.com/zrDXSSmDkK
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) March 11, 2024
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the Bengals applied the franchise tag on Higgins well before the scouting combine.
Bengals franchise WR Tee Higgins has requested a trade, per sources. Higgins loves Cincinnati and hoped to be with the team long term, but is disappointed that the team has not had any talks about a long-term contract extension since March 2023. He’s ready to move on to a new home.
Bengals franchise WR Tee Higgins has requested a trade, per sources. Higgins loves Cincinnati and hoped to be with the team long term, but is disappointed that the team has not had any talks about a long-term contract extension since March 2023. He’s ready to move on to a new… pic.twitter.com/T0qy7uMu8n
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 11, 2024
This tag has paved the way for the Bengals to work on a long-term extension with the star receiver until July 15.
This early application of the franchise tag, worth an estimated $21.8 million, deduces many to believe that the Bengals might be open to trade proposals.
The tag’s usage at the end of February by the Cincinnati team is a considerable aspect to fathom.
Speculations were greatly restrained when Duke Tobin, the Bengals director of player personnel, negated the notion of trade prospects at the scouting combine.
According to Tobin, the timing of the franchise tag had more correlation with the sudden jump of the salary cap.
there’s “a pie and there are things we can do and can’t do because of it,”
Joe Burrow, the Bengals’ star quarterback, sided with receiver Tee Higgins in wanting to remain with the team despite the echo of the franchise tag controversy.
The entire situation appears parallel to the Jessie Bates case which ultimately led to a trade off.
However, is it right to speculate the same fate for Higgins? That remains a big question.
Even if a trade might potentially occur in the future, Higgins would first have to sign the franchise tag for the trade to go through. Otherwise, it could result in a summer holdout.
The request for a trade by Higgins, much like the timing of it, poses a significant new element to the current situation, adding yet another dimension to the unfolding drama.
