Bengals' quest to keep Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins together just got a whole lot easier
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins has already moved on to a new agent.Per The Enquirer's Kelsey Conway, Higgins is now represented by Rocky Arceneaux of Alliance Sports Management, who also represents Bengals wideout Ja'Marr Chase. Higgins is also officially listed with Caitlin Aoki, who also represents Chase alongside Arceneaux. Yeah, we're all thinking the same […]
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins has already moved on to a new agent.
Per The Enquirer's Kelsey Conway, Higgins is now represented by Rocky Arceneaux of Alliance Sports Management, who also represents Bengals wideout Ja'Marr Chase.
Higgins is also officially listed with Caitlin Aoki, who also represents Chase alongside Arceneaux.
Yeah, we're all thinking the same thing here.
With Higgins and Chase both looking for new contracts this upcoming offseason, the Bengals will now be able to negotiate both of them with the same agents. That should make the process more simplified as they will be the two largest contracts Cincinnati will have to tackle next year.
News of Higgins parting ways with his former agent David Mulugheta of Athletes First broke this week following Joe Burrow expressing confidence in the Bengals being able to re-sign Higgins in the coming months.
"I'm confident that I think we're gonna be able to do what it takes to bring Tee back," Burrow said. "And I know that I'm gonna do what it takes to get him back, and so is he. We've had those talks. Those are gonna be offseason discussions, but I think we're excited about that opportunity."
Higgins didn't just move on to any representation, he chose the reps of his superstar teammate. That speaks volumes about his intent of staying in town for the prime of his career.
"Yeah, 100% I feel like he deserves to be here," Chase said of Higgins on Thursday. "He wants to be here, but at the end of the day, that's not in my control. I just hope the best for him. I hope he can stay."
You can't always tell a player is being genuine about wanting to stay with his current team; money is the ultimate factor in free agency at the end of the day. Higgins can't make it any more clear with his actions that sticking with Chase, and Burrow, is precisely what he wants.
The Bengals will need to compensate both accordingly, and going through just one medium instead of two should make communications a lot simpler. When negotiating one deal, they'll have instant knowledge and awareness about the demands for the other. It also allows Chase and Higgins to have clarity on the situation and go through the same channel to provide input.
This is as good of a solution as the Bengals could've hoped for. Salary cap space and cash will not be an issue in terms of fitting both receivers into the future. It all comes down to their willingness as the extra hoops to jump through have been consolidated.
Higgins has done what he can. It's up to the front office when the season ends.