Cincinnati Bengals’ wide receiver Tee Higgins, currently under the franchise tag, has formally requested a trade.
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins is reportedly seeking a change of scenery, as sources informed ESPN’s Adam Schefter that he has requested a trade from the team. Despite expressing his affection for Cincinnati and a desire for a long-term stay, Higgins is disappointed that discussions regarding a contract extension have not taken place since March 2023.
The news of Higgins’ trade request surfaces just before the NFL’s legal tampering window opens ahead of free agency.
Higgins, a fourth-year player out of Clemson, recently concluded the final year of his rookie contract. With the inability to secure a long-term agreement by July 15, Cincinnati applied the one-year franchise tag, valuing at $21.8 million for the upcoming season.
However, negotiations for a contract extension seemed unlikely even before the 2023 season began, with minimal progress reported, according to ESPN sources. Talks had allegedly hit a standstill in March 2023. In his four seasons with the Bengals, Higgins recorded 257 catches, 3,684 yards, and 24 touchdowns. Last season saw a dip in production due to injuries, with 42 receptions for 656 yards and five touchdowns in 12 games.
During the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis, Bengals executive Duke Tobin expressed the team’s interest in retaining Higgins for at least another season. While the franchise tag was used as a demonstration of this desire, Tobin left room for potential offseason moves, stating, “The reason we franchised him is because we would like to have him. He’s not under contract, and it’s hard for me to predict all the different scenarios that could happen, but we feel strongly about Tee Higgins and his fit with us.”
This marks the second consecutive year a prominent Bengals player has sought a trade, with offensive tackle Jonah Williams making a similar request last March, albeit the team did not entertain the proposition, and Williams continued to play in his expiring contract season.
