NFL teams interested in trading for Bengals WR Tee Higgins just got news that they should've expected
Multiple star wide receivers have already been dealt with the NFL trade deadline rapidly approaching. On top of Amari Cooper, Davante Adams, and Deandre Hopkins finding new homes, Cooper Kupp is also expected to land elsewhere with the deadline now less than two weeks away.The Cincinnati Bengals have a stud wideout who would also make for […]
Multiple star wide receivers have already been dealt with the NFL trade deadline rapidly approaching.
On top of Amari Cooper, Davante Adams, and Deandre Hopkins finding new homes, Cooper Kupp is also expected to land elsewhere with the deadline now less than two weeks away.
The Cincinnati Bengals have a stud wideout who would also make for a logical trade piece, but as expected, a deal isn't expected to happen.
NFL insider has doubts about Bengals trading WR Tee Higgins
Tee Higgins is in the midst of a strong contract year, and the Bengals are not interested in sending him off any sooner than they have to let him leave on his own.
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reports this week that the Bengals will stick to their inactive ways at the deadline and finds it "questionable" for the club to be dealing Higgins away:
"The Bengals aren't on my bingo card for a splash move at the deadline. The offense is stabilized, the offensive line is capable and the defense appears to have what it needs. Teams have had interest in Tee Higgins, but with Cincy still a playoff contender, shipping him out is questionable — especially with his free agency contract destined to net the Bengals a decent midround compensatory pick." – ESPN's Jeremy Fowler
Trade deadline activity and the Bengals aren't a common pairing. Their last deadline deal involved trading away a disgruntled Carlos Dunlap to the Seattle Seahawks after he did everything in his power to sever his relationship with Cincinnati. Dunlap forced his way out much like Carson Palmer did nearly a decade earlier. It's the only proven way to make the Bengals' front office flinch in these situations.
Higgins did request a trade this offseason, but has fully locked in ever since signing the franchise tag back in June. His dominant training camp has translated into the regular season as he's up to 29 receptions for 341 yards and three touchdowns in five games played. His 5.8 receptions per game as it stands would be a career-high and his 68.2 yards per game is the highest since 2021.
Still just 25 years old, Higgins is having one of the best seasons of his career and has surely raised his trade value from where it was in the offseason following a forgettable 2023 campaign. That said, the Bengals have never been truly willing to trade away their best players unless they felt forced to do so, and Higgins is doing anything but trying to get out as soon as possible.
As Fowler mentioned, the Bengals are now back in the playoff hunt following a 1-4 start and Higgins is a huge reason why. Trading him away now would make the postseason an unlikely result for this season.
Even if they were winless, it would take Higgins pulling a Dunlap or Palmer to force the Bengals' hand here.
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