The offseason has officially begun for the Bengals, a team which fell short of expectations in 2023. Cincinnati faces a number of key decisions with respect to pending free agents, chief among them being wideout Tee Higgins. 
The former second-rounder is set to reach the open market for the first time in his career, although the franchise tag looms as an option for the team to retain him for at least one more year. Higgins is an obvious tag candidate given his importance to Cincinnati’s offense and the lack of progress made on extension negotiations last offseason. He has received the backing of fellow WR Ja’Marr Chase as well as quarterback Joe Burrow for a deal of some kind, and he is indeed aiming to remain with the Bengals in 2024 and beyond.
“Them telling me that they want me to come back, man, it’s family,” Higgins said, via Bleacher Report’s Scott Polacek. “We’ve been playing together for three or four years now, and I personally would love to be back playing with those guys. It’s not in my hands now, but when the time comes and Cincinnati is there, that’s the number one option right now.”
The Bengals will no doubt reciprocate Higgins’ desire to continue their relationship for at least the short-term future. Cincinnati turned down trade interest both in the offseason and in advance of the trade deadline, leaving the door open to a potential departure. The sides have engaged in contract talks, but little traction has been gained on that front. Negotiations were tabled until the end of the campaign, and it will be interesting to see how much progress can be made in the coming weeks.
Given Higgins’ age (25 by the start of next season) and production (3,684 yards and 24 touchdowns in four seasons) a strong trade market would exist if the Bengals tagged him and looked to move on without the prospect of a multi-year agreement. However, Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic writes Higgins is essentially a lock to be in place for 2024 (subscription required). As a result, a tag-and-trade scenario would come as a surprise, even if talks on a long-term agreement did not produce an deal.
The Bengals will have other decisions to make at the receiver position beyond Higgins. Chase is eligible for a monster extension, although the team could buy more time for negotiations on that front by exercising his fifth-year option for 2025. That move will no doubt be made in any case, but the former No. 5 pick profiles as a higher extension priority than Higgins. Veteran Tyler Boyd, meanwhile, is a pending free agent and thus in danger of departing Cincinnati for the first time in his career.
The franchise tag for receivers is projected to come in at a cost of $21.66MM. Applying it would lock in Higgins for at least one season, and it would give both parties until mid-July to work out a longer agreement. If a trade is indeed off the table, though, it can at least be safely assumed he will get his wish of staying in Cincinnati for 2024 at a minimum.
How could you trade or let Higgy Baby go?
That would be a mistake, he is a big part of the Bengals!
Anyone who knows anything about the Bengals knows tag and trade was never in play (even if it is the smart thing to do). He’ll play this year on the tag then the bengals will happily take the comp pick when he leaves next year. It’s how they do business.
More value in a trade than as letting him walk as a FA next year.
Shame. A tag and trade involving Higgins and Jaire Alexander made a lot of sense for both teams.
Packers need a true #1 wr
Bengals need a true #1 cb
Next couple years Hendrickson, Chase, Hill, Reader etc are gonna need new contracts.
It’s a hard sell for both teams. Higgins would need to be extended as a part of any deal I think since Jaire has time on his deal.
I don’t hate that deal as a Packer fan, but I don’t love it either. It would either make or break the team.
Sounds like Alexander has work out his welcome in Green Bay. Has 3 years left on his deal but I think Green Bay shops him.
They missed out on jets 1st rounder this year and their 1st rounder is in the 20s, plus doubt they invest in a 1st round wide receiver. Possibly pass rusher.
I’d probably make this trade if we signed Higgins at like 4-80 or something like that.
Use our first for a DB. Use the Jets and our 2nd for a pass rusher and best available on defense.
There is a lot of cap space to work with if you cut/trade some guys like Bak, Aaron Jones, Preston Smith, Kenny Clark and a few others.
I’d love to see Green Bay go get cooper dejean
Or trade him