The Cincinnati Bengals hoped to keep the band together, but that might not be possible.
They placed star WR Tee Higgins under the franchise tag and will allow Tyler Boyd to test out free agency.
Now, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that Higgins has officially requested a trade.
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
Apparently, Higgins wanted to stay in Cincinnati and loves the city and the team, but he’s unhappy with the fact that the front office hasn’t reached out to discuss a long-term deal after franchise-tagging him.
The Bengals could get a valuable draft pick in return for Higgins if they decide to comply with his request.
This is the fallout of the Joe Burrow contract, which was one of the biggest concerns about it.
The team signed their superstar quarterback to a very lucrative deal, and they know they need to save up as much money as they can for Ja’ Marr Chase’s impending contract extension.
Chase has made it loud and clear that he won’t give the Bengals any sort of hometown discount.
That puts the team in a tough spot, and they may have no choice but to find a new home for their star wide receiver.
Higgins will have several suitors lining up to try and get him, and he could be a primary target for multiple teams.
NEXT: Kay Adams Makes A Strong Statement About Tee Higgins