Tee Higgins Addresses Future With Bengals Following Trade Request

Karl Rasmussen | Apr 15, 2024

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins / Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Although Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins requested a trade from the organization this offseason, he said Sunday that he's anticipating playing for the team during the 2024 NFL season.

The Bengals placed the franchise tag on Higgins in February, and the team hoped to reach an agreement on a contract extension for their star wideout. He ultimately requested a trade in March.

No movement has come on that front, however, and Higgins told reporters on Sunday that he's now anticipating playing in Cincinnati this season.

"I do anticipate it," said Higgins while at a youth football camp, (via WLWT). "I've grown a love for Cincinnati that I didn't think I would. [I'm] looking forward to it.

New @WLWT: Tee Higgins says he does anticipate playing for the Bengals in 2024. pic.twitter.com/kMh0Lar8Ws

— Charlie Clifford (@char_cliff) April 14, 2024

If Higgins signs the franchise tag, he will make a fully-guaranteed $21.816 million in 2024. The two sides would then have until the deadline on July 15 in order to try to reach an agreement on a long-term extension.

Cincinnati will need to figure out a means to pay both Higgins and Ja'Marr Chase if they want to keep their star receiving tandem intact beyond the '24 season. For now, at least, it seems Higgins expects to be around.

Higgins had a down year in '23, missing five games due to injury. He caught 42 passes for 656 yards and five touchdowns. Across four seasons and 58 games with the Bengals, the 25-year-old has 257 receptions, 3,684 yards and 24 receiving touchdowns.