Despite publicly requesting a trade, Tee Higgins doesn’t see himself playing for another team in 2024. The Bengals receiver, who has been looking for a new contract, doesn’t think Cincinnati will trade him before start of the upcoming season.
“We’ll see. I plan on (playing for the Bengals in 2024),” Higgins said via Fox19. “I’ve developed a love for Cincy that I didn’t know I would love. I’m looking forward to it.”
Higgins’ desire to stay in Cincinnati is not new; he just wants the team to commit to him for the long term. He is currently expected to play the 2024 season under the franchise tag which will earn him $21.816 million this season.
The Bengals have not ruled out re-signing Higgins, but the two sides have reportedly not discussed a new deal since last offseason, leading Higgins to request a trade earlier this offseason, leading to incessant speculation about his future with the team.
Bengals officials have expressed their desire to keep Higgins, but that doesn’t mean they wouldn’t change their mind if a team made them an offer they couldn’t refuse. A mid-first-round pick, for example, could force the Bengals to trade Higgins before or during the NFL Draft.
Cincinnati would have no problem finding teams that would trade for Higgins if that’s the direction they decide to take. The Steelers, for example, are looking for a veteran wideout and reportedly discussed the possibility of trading for Higgins.
No matter where he plays, Higgins is surely hoping to have a big year after injuries limited his production last season. Joe Burrow’s return from his season-ending wrist injury last year will no doubt help Higgins put up numbers for what could be his final year in Cincinnati.