'I'm Very Hopeful' - Bengals Head Coach Zac Taylor Takes Optimistic Outlook On Retaining WR Tee Higgins

Jay Morrison | Jan 6, 2025

Jan 4, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (5) catches a pass in front of Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. (24) and safety DeShon Elliott (25) during the second quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Barry Reeger-Imagn Images / Barry Reeger-Imagn Images

CINCINNATI – Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor spent a good potion of his Monday news conference discussing his reasons for firing four members of his staff in defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, offensive line coach Frank Pollack, defensive line coach Marion Hobby and linebackers coach James Bettcher.

But Taylor also touched on some other key decision that he – and most Bengals fans – hope will not lead to separations.

As Joe Burrow has done the last several weeks, Taylor struck a positive tone when it came to the topic of keeping wide receiver Tee Higgins on the roster.

Taylor was asked if he had been lobbying the front office to bring back Higgins.

“I think 'lobby' is not the right word,” he said. “We are lockstep in how we communicate every week of the season, every week of the offseason. So those are conversations that we'll have.

“We've got a lot of great players, and Tee's one of them certainly,” Taylor continued. “I'm very hopeful that that'll work out to where we are able to get him back.”

Higgins is set to become a free agent after playing the 2024 season on the franchise tag.

The Bengals could franchise tag him again, but that number would be far higher than the $21.8 million salary Higgins earned this year.

Tagging a player for the second time requires a 120 percent increase from the previous season, which would bring his price tag to $26.2 million.

The Bengals also are trying to reach a long-term agreement with wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase.

As is the case with Higgins, the cost of keeping Chase is going to be far more expensive this offseason due to the front office’s inability – or unwillingness – to be proactive and get the deals done last year.

Chase already was looking to top Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson as the highest paid non-quarterback in the league.

By becoming the fifth player in NFL history to win the receiving Triple Crown by leading the league in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns – and breaking or matching franchise records in all three categories – Chase literally is going to make the Bengals pay for not getting the deal done in 2024.

Regardless of the higher price of doing business, the expectation is that the Bengals will sign Chase to a massive extension this offseason.

“That's certainly our hope,” Taylor said.

There are 20 other players entering free agency. That list includes several starters/regulars:

Defensive tackle B.J. Hill

Cornerback Mike Hilton

Tight end Mike Gesicki

Offensive lineman Cody Ford

Defensive end Joseph Ossai

There also will be discussions on whether to sever ties with underperforming players with years remaining on their contracts, such as safety Geno Stone, defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins and running back Zack Moss.

“There's certainly a process we're gonna have to undergo with a lot of players on our team,” Taylor said. “And I can promise you we'll be in unison with whatever those decisions are. That's a process we'll start now through the month of January and February and talking through every player on our roster and how it all fits.”

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