Tee Higgins reveals why he wants to stay with Bengals
Before the Cincinnati Bengals can do anything this free agency, they must decide on what to do with wide receiver Tee Higgins.Higgins, one of three Bengals receivers in history to record 3,000 receiving yards in his first three seasons, is scheduled to enter the open market for the first time this March. The Bengals can […]
Before the Cincinnati Bengals can do anything this free agency, they must decide on what to do with wide receiver Tee Higgins.
Higgins, one of three Bengals receivers in history to record 3,000 receiving yards in his first three seasons, is scheduled to enter the open market for the first time this March. The Bengals can still re-sign him or place the franchise tag on him before then.
Staying in Cincinnati is something Higgins wants, and the reasons are simple.
Higgins and Ja'Marr Chase joined The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz earlier this week on behalf of Bounty, and Higgins was asked if he feels like the Bengals will retain him in the coming weeks.
"To be honest, I don't know," Higgins answered. "But you know, I obviously want to just because I've got such a strong chemistry with the guys already in the locker room, with the coaches. I know the offense in and out, but you know, it's out of my hands. So we just have to see when time comes."
Higgins wasn't asked if he wants to stay with the Bengals, and yet the full answer he gave tells us everything. Higgins is a critical component of the locker room and the Bengals' identity. He's been in this offense since he was 21 years old with Joe Burrow as his quarterback.
If money wasn't a factor, Higgins would undoubtedly be back in Cincinnati for years to come. Unfortunately, money is usually how these relationships become altered.
How much could Higgins cost to keep in free agency?
Per A to Z Sports' cap experts, Josh Queipo and Kyle DeDiminicantanio, Higgins is projected to receive an annual average of $23.5 million per year over the course of what projects to be a three-year deal.
Outside of [Mike] Evans, Higgins will be the most sought-after receiving option on the market for wide receiver-needy teams. And with the recent explosion in the valuation of the receiver market he will be able to lock in a contract well ahead of other recent “Robin’s” like Chris Godwin and Mike Williams.
Franchise Tag Likelihood: Low
3 yrs $70.5M, $23.5M APY, $45M Fully GTD
Year One Cap Hit: $7.5 million
This projection falls below the top seven receivers in APY, and would place him fourth in terms of fully guaranteed money. Higgins is also a candidate for the franchise tag, and based on Burrow's recent comments, the Bengals may very well be planning on spending north of $20 million to bring Higgins back for this year alone.
Click here to see a full breakdown of Higgins' free agency profile and contract projection.
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