Cincinnati Bengals receiver Tee Higgins has requested a trade after no contract talks with the team for over a year. The Buffalo Bills are a top fit given their recent WR losses.
While Curtis Samuel was signed, upgrading at WR1 is necessary. Higgins, who wants to be a star wideout, has been overshadowed by Ja’Marr Chase.
The Bills, with Josh Allen as QB, are a near-perfect fit if the trade happens.
Defensive end Trey Hendrickson has also requested a trade from the Cincinnati Bengals, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Hendrickson, who is upset with his current contract, hopes to secure a long-term deal.
Bengals franchise WR Tee Higgins also has requested to be traded being that there have been no contract talks with the team now in over a year. https://t.co/vN984f7TVb
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 24, 2024
Set to play his eighth NFL season in 2024, the 29-year-old Hendrickson has established himself as one of the league’s top pass-rushers, accumulating 53 sacks over the past four seasons.
He is looking to cash in on what could be his last big payday before entering the latter stages of his career.
Currently under contract through the 2025 season, Hendrickson signed a one-year extension in 2023. He has cap charges of $21.6 million for this year and $18.6 million for 2025.
Despite three successful seasons with the Bengals, Hendrickson has asked to be traded in search of more long-term security.
The Bengals, who are looking to bounce back from a rough 2024 season marred by injuries to quarterback Joe Burrow, went 9-8 last year after two consecutive seasons of double-digit victories.
Hendrickson is the second star player to request a trade this offseason, with wide receiver Tee Higgins also expressing his desire for a trade.
As for potential trade destinations, the Atlanta Falcons, Los Angeles Rams, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Detroit Lions, and Denver Broncos are all teams that may be interested in acquiring Hendrickson.
These teams could benefit from his pass-rushing abilities and experience. However, it remains to be seen if the Bengals are open to parting ways with Hendrickson.
Hendrickson’s request for a trade comes after a standout 2023 season in which he recorded 17.5 sacks, the most for the Bengals since the official sack statistic was introduced in 1982.
He also performed well in advanced metrics, ranking 11th in pass rush win rate and creating the second-most sacks in the league behind the Kansas City Chiefs’ Chris Jones.
Although Hendrickson has excelled on the field, his contract numbers do not reflect his performance. His average annual value currently ranks 11th among all edge rushers, despite his impressive production.
Hendrickson has expressed his desire for long-term security, emphasizing the importance of stability in a physically demanding sport.
Hendrickson’s trade request adds another layer of uncertainty to the Bengals’ offseason. While the team aims to rebuild and contend in the coming season, the unresolved contract situations of key players like Hendrickson and Higgins may pose challenges.
The Cincinnati Bengals, once a successful NFL team, are now facing challenges. Defensive end Trey Hendrickson and star receiver Tee Higgins have both requested a trade due to stalled contract negotiations. This raises concerns about the team’s commitment to rewarding players for their efforts.
While some may argue that the Bengals are not being cheap, considering their cash payroll ranking and limited cap space, they were rated poorly in the NFLPA’s labor conditions survey for their lack of investment in player services and facilities.
Furthermore, despite quarterback Joe Burrow’s contract extension, which was expected to provide flexibility to maintain a strong supporting cast, it seems that the Bengals are not prioritizing their players’ financial futures.
This situation is disheartening for Bengals fans who finally have a promising team but may see it dismantled before achieving success.
It remains to be seen how the Bengals will handle these requests and if they will make the necessary moves to retain their star defensive end or pursue potential trade opportunities.
Fans reacted as follows:
Deal is done per Zim Who Dey
— Steelers Network (@SteelersNetwork) April 24, 2024
Bengals window has closed gg
— Kev (@2KEVlN) April 24, 2024
Bengals fans seeing this pic.twitter.com/cBBflxWyxs
— Hard Rock Bet (@HardRockBet) April 24, 2024
Bengals downfall, we here pic.twitter.com/iwkrrhsscU
— Bodis (@frbodis) April 24, 2024
Bro wants to be a Packer so bad
— Jason (@JasonWard23) April 24, 2024
bengals downfall, @Triple_Gz1 gets into football and his team crumbles, lol
— Erik (@The_Poolshark) April 24, 2024
Let's get this done before the Draft tommorow. 1 less WR needy team.
— Kansas City Today (@KC__Today) April 24, 2024
LMAOOO BENGALS ARE COOKED
— BINK🎯 (@therealbink1) April 24, 2024
Bengals and Higgins should work together to find a resolution that benefits both parties without hastily resorting to a trade.
— ZAQ RIDER (@zaqrider) April 24, 2024
