Cincinnati Bengals are dealing with a narrative that's going to cause big problems all season
The Cincinnati Bengals are going to be dealing with a particular narrative all season and it has the potential to cause some problems. For some reason, the young NFL offseason has given birth to the idea that the Bengals could trade wide receiver Tee Higgins before the 2023 season. The idea is that Cincinnati isn't […]
The Cincinnati Bengals are going to be dealing with a particular narrative all season and it has the potential to cause some problems.
For some reason, the young NFL offseason has given birth to the idea that the Bengals could trade wide receiver Tee Higgins before the 2023 season.
The idea is that Cincinnati isn't going to give Higgins the contract extension he desires/deserves because they have to pay quarterback Joe Burrow (he should receive an extension this offseason) and wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (next offseason).
Higgins is set to be a free agent after the 2023 season.
Folks in Cincinnati — fans and reporters — know that it's a long shot that the Bengals will trade Higgins this offseason.
The only reason to suggest that they might is because of what we saw happen with the Tennessee Titans a year ago. The Titans spent most of the offseason publicly proclaiming that AJ Brown wasn't going anywhere. And then on draft night, Brown was shockingly traded to the Philadelphia Eagles.
After watching Tennessee trade Brown, the Kansas City Chiefs trade Tyreek Hill, and the Green Bay Packers trade Davante Adams, it would be unwise to say "never" when it comes to Higgins.
Still, it's extremely unlikely that Higgins is dealt. The 2023 season could be the last season we see Chase, Higgins, and Boyd together. I think it's important for Cincinnati to take advantage of having those three guys together this fall as the Bengals attempt to bring a Super Bowl trophy to Ohio.
Unfortunately, until Higgins is either extended, traded, or hits free agency (after next season), the narrative that he's going to be dealt will linger.
And that's going to be a huge distraction for Higgins. Athletes can try to block out the noise all they want, but that's tough to actually do. These guys are human. Higgins is just 24 years old. Having this hanging over him all season is going to be tough to deal with. The Bengals will have to do their best to reassure him without making promises that he's an important player for the franchise.
There are two likely outcomes for Higgins and the Bengals.
- Higgins receives a contract extension before the 2023 season (unlikely). If the Bengals wait until next offseason and Higgins has a huge 2023 season, he could price himself out of Cincy.
- Higgins is franchise tagged after 2023 and then traded (basically what the Packers did with Adams).
This story isn't going anywhere so Bengals fans might as well get comfortable with it.
Featured image via Albert Cesare/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK
