Bengals insider believes it's an extension or nothing for Tee Higgins
When it comes to Joe Burrow and Tee Higgins, the hours leading up to Week 1 in September is the deadline to extend either of them before the end of season. Very rarely will the Cincinnati Bengals sign players to extensions while games are being played. Burrow at least is under contract for one more […]
When it comes to Joe Burrow and Tee Higgins, the hours leading up to Week 1 in September is the deadline to extend either of them before the end of season. Very rarely will the Cincinnati Bengals sign players to extensions while games are being played.
Burrow at least is under contract for one more season. Higgins is entering his contract year, and if no extension can be reached this Summer, the Bengals will have to scramble in the Winter to get something done with one of their core players.
The franchise tag is the most sensible contingency plan for Higgins, but Bengals insider and soon-to-be Pro Football Network beat writer Jay Morrison doesn't see that going down.
The Bengals last used the franchise tag a year ago for Jessie Bates III, whom they tried to extend for months prior. Bates ended up holding out for the entire offseason only to return for Week 1.
Morrison believes this is a path the Bengals won't want to go down once more with a star player.
"I would think the more likely scenario would be they let him walk and yet they take like the comp pick," Morrison said on the Locked On Bengals Podcast. "I don't know that that's a road they want to go down again, where you franchise tag him and he's gonna hold out through OTAs, through a good part of camp, and then he comes in and he's a little behind.
"But he has a history of some soft tissue injuries and if he's not working out in camp and not fully up to speed, and that's another concern in the back of your mind. I just think it's all or nothing; extend him or let him walk."
The only reason why this is a discussion is Ja'Marr Chase's existence. The Bengals are, under no circumstances, letting him leave when it's time for his extension. It puts the future of Higgins, the 1B to Chase's 1A, up in the air enough to create questions of doubt.
Morrison also brought up the tag amount for receivers next year being a factor. The price was just under $20 million this year, and it will undoubtedly cross that threshold next year. For comparison's sake, Bates was tagged for just under $13 million in 2022.
The advantage Higgins has over Bates is team history. Cincinnati has never been shy when ponying up the money for its best receivers. If not for Chase, Higgins would be the best one to wear the stripes since A.J. Green. They undoubtedly value him more than they did Bates when he was around, and if that doesn't come with an extension, it will almost surely come with a tag. He's just too important to let walk.
But the two sides still have to come together on an agreement, if it hasn't already been agreed in principle. When August turns to September and nothing's happened yet, the worry meter will reach the bad end of the spectrum.
Tee Higgins explains how he’s approaching contract year
Higgins is due for a big pay day, but that’s not in the forefront of his mind.
Featured image via © Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports
