Tobin – Bengals higher with Tee Higgins however will not predict future

INDIANAPOLIS — Cincinnati Bengals government Duke Tobin emphasised how significantly better the roster is when broad receiver Tee Higgins is on it.

However in contrast to final yr’s NFL scouting mix when Tobin emphatically shot down the notion that Higgins could possibly be on the transfer, Cincinnati’s director of participant personnel left the door considerably ajar when he spoke to reporters on Tuesday.

“By way of our intentions going ahead and answering hypotheticals of what might and could not come about, I will not get into that, however we really feel like we’re a greater workforce with him,” Tobin stated throughout his session on the Indianapolis Conference Middle. “The rationale we franchised him is as a result of we want to have him. He is not below contract and it is laborious for me to foretell all of the totally different situations that might occur.”

The Bengals formally positioned the franchise tag on Higgins on Monday. That ensures Cincinnati the best to signal Higgins to a one-year deal value $21.8 million for the upcoming season. Higgins, a second-round decide within the 2020 draft, is on the finish of an expiring rookie contract.

Tobin stated that as quickly because the NFL introduced the wage cap for every workforce in 2024, the Bengals did not delay the choice to present Higgins the franchise tag. In a aspect session with native reporters, Tobin additionally stated it is laborious to understand how laborious it’s to commerce a participant who’s on the one-year contract and reiterated the workforce’s want for Higgins to be on the roster for 2024.

“He matches us completely, so we tagged him for that cause,” Tobin stated. “The hypotheticals of what might occur, you already know, it is laborious for me to touch upon.”

It was very totally different than what Tobin stated in 2023 when requested about potential commerce hypothesis involving Higgins as he entered the top of his rookie deal.

“I am within the enterprise of constructing the Cincinnati Bengals higher, and so buying and selling Tee Higgins will not be on my thoughts,” Tobin stated in Feb. 2023. “That is their drawback. [If] they need a receiver, go discover your individual.”

Bengals coach Zac Taylor stated the decision informing Higgins that he obtained the franchise tag was transient, and he let the receiver understand how a lot he values the connection with the younger playmaker.

“It’s the enterprise aspect,” Taylor stated. “I perceive it may be irritating. Tee has not given me any of that. We’re simply excited to assault this low season and see the place it goes from there.”

In 4 seasons, Higgins has been one of many workforce’s outstanding playmakers. In his time with the Bengals, he has 257 catches for 3,684 yards and 24 touchdowns. He had greater than 1,000 receiving yards in 2021 and 2022, the years the Bengals gained the AFC North and made deep playoff runs, together with a Tremendous Bowl LVI look.

This previous season, Higgins was hampered by accidents. In 12 video games, he amassed 42 receptions for 656 yards and 5 touchdowns.