Sources – Franchise-tagged Bengals WR Tee Higgins requests commerce

CINCINNATI — Cincinnati Bengals large receiver Tee Higgins might be on the transfer.

Higgins has requested a commerce out of Cincinnati, a supply informed ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Higgins mentioned he loves Cincinnati and hoped to be with the group long run however that he’s dissatisfied the group has not had any talks a couple of long-term contract extension since March 2023, per sources.

The information comes simply hours earlier than the NFL’s authorized tampering window opens forward of free company at midday ET.

The fourth-year participant out of Clemson simply wrapped up the ultimate yr of his rookie contract. Cincinnati gave Higgins the one-year franchise tag value $21.8 million for the upcoming season ought to the 2 sides be unable to work out a long-term settlement forward of July 15.

However that doesn’t seem seemingly. Even earlier than the beginning of the 2023 season, there had been little to no motion on a possible contract extension, a supply informed ESPN.

On Monday, a supply informed Schefter that these talks had stalled out in March 2023. In 4 seasons with the Bengals, Higgins amassed 257 catches, 3,684 yards and 24 touchdowns. Final yr, accidents contributed to his least-productive season because the Bengals drafted him in 2020. The second-round choose appeared in 12 video games and caught 42 passes for 656 yards and 5 touchdowns.

On the NFL scouting mix in Indianapolis, Bengals director of participant personnel Duke Tobin mentioned the group wished to maintain Higgins for not less than one other season. Nonetheless, not like the earlier yr through which Tobin emphatically shot down the notion of buying and selling him, he left the door open for a possible transfer this offseason.

“The explanation we franchised him is as a result of we wish to have him,” Tobin mentioned. “He isn’t below contract and it is laborious for me to foretell all of the totally different eventualities that might occur, however we really feel strongly about Tee Higgins and his match with us.”

That is the second straight yr a distinguished Bengals participant has requested a commerce. Final March, offensive deal with Jonah Williams sought a transfer after the group landed Orlando Brown Jr. in free company, which moved Williams from left deal with to proper deal with. The group by no means entertained the request, nevertheless. He performed all 17 video games at proper deal with in an expiring contract season.