Bengals clear the way for Tee Higgins trade talks at the Scouting Combine in making franchise tag official
Just over two days since it was initially reported, the Cincinnati Bengals have officially placed the franchise tag on wide receiver Tee Higgins.The fifth-year wideout is now scheduled to play the 2024 season on a one-year, $21.816 million tender. The Bengals have never been known to place the franchise tag on one of their players […]
Just over two days since it was initially reported, the Cincinnati Bengals have officially placed the franchise tag on wide receiver Tee Higgins.
The fifth-year wideout is now scheduled to play the 2024 season on a one-year, $21.816 million tender.
The Bengals have never been known to place the franchise tag on one of their players this early in the two-week window. The timing of it directly corresponds to this week's NFL Scouting Combine, and that can't be treated as just a coincidence.
Cincinnati can now "legally" negotiate a Tee Higgins trade
Now that the franchise tag is officially placed, Higgins officially becomes eligible to be traded once the new league year kicks off on March 13. Only players who are still under contract prior to that date can be officially discussed for trade.
Where else do these talks happen if not in Indianapolis every year for the Combine?
But we're not that naive. Under the table talks occur all the time between agents and team executives. It's why free agent deals are suddenly announced as soon as the legal tampering period begins 52 hours prior to free agency. Illegal tampering happens all the time.
Higgins would've undoubtedly been the subject of this taboo act. What changes now is that teams will be more forward in potentially discussing the topic with the Bengals.
It's like holding up an "open for business" sign on the storefront window.
The alternative way of looking at this decision is a lot more direct. The Bengals have forfeited a week's worth of time potentially negotiating a long-term deal with Higgins' representation. They didn't have to tag him until March 5 at the latest, and they could still negotiate with him alone until legal tampering kicked off.
A quick tag is a sign, and not one for talks to continue any time soon.
The Bengals are serious about playing Higgins on the tag, and potentially two of them if it comes to that next year. This year's massive jump in the salary cap makes an equally large jump next year entirely likely, which makes tagging Higgins a second time more palatable.
The Bengals are putting their foot down in a way not even they are accustomed to doing. Mike Brown and his kin have always been intense negotiators, but this is a new level. This is telling the NFL world the exact opposite of what Duke Tobin said last year.
You want a No. 1 receiver? We're listening.
Bengals quickly tagging WR Tee Higgins now clears several paths for the offseason and beyond
Navigating all the possibilities for Cincinnati after placing the franchise tag on Higgins.
