In news that should surprise absolutely nobody, Tee Higgins and the Cincinnati Bengals could not agree to a long-term deal. Franchise tag rules prohibit players and teams from agreeing to long-term deals at this point in the offseason, so the wide receiver will depart in free agency next year. While some teams use the franchise tag as a way to extend their homegrown talent, ProFootballTalk‘s Mike Florio recently revealed that the Bengals are not one of these organizations. According to the NFL insider, Cincinnati has “never kept a player beyond the year in which he was tagged.”
While anything can happen over the next 10 or so months, history will likely repeat itself. Cincinnati never came close to agreeing to terms with Tee Higgins, and they have enough financial worries coming around the corner. Joe Burrow’s cap hit is set to explode, and superstar wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase is due for an extension of his own. With Higgins likely to depart in 2025, look for the Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers to bid for his services.
Chiefs, Chargers Could Fight For Tee Higgins
On paper, the Kansas City Chiefs have three promising wide receivers in Marquise Brown, Rashee Rice, and 2024 first-round pick Xavier Worthy. With Travis Kelce still going strong, Kansas City should have a reliable set of weapons for Patrick Mahomes in 2024. 2025, however, is a different story, and one that could include Tee Higgins.
Marquise Brown signed a one-year deal with the Chiefs and could depart for a bigger payday at this point next year. Brown signed with the Chiefs before the team selected Worthy in the NFL Draft, and both players possess similar skillsets. While the two can coexist for one year, Kansas City probably won’t want to give Brown a long-term deal, as it limits what they could do with Worthy. Kelce, meanwhile, started to slow down in the regular season and isn’t getting any younger. Tee Higgins possesses a unique skillset, as his ability to win with size on the perimeter perfectly complements the speedy Worthy and the shifty Rashee Rice.
Getting Herbert Help
Justin Herbert will have a tough time succeeding in 2024. First-year head coach Jim Harbaugh cleared some much-needed cap space by parting ways with Mike Williams and Keenan Allen, but he didn’t do too much to replace the reliable duo. Second-round pick Ladd McConkey can be an effective chain mover, but the rest of the depth chart leaves a lot to be desired. Fortunately, the Chargers are projected to have roughly $43 million in cap space next year and should be able to afford a premier talent like Tee Higgins.
Stylistically, Higgins and Mike Williams are similar receivers, so it shouldn’t take long for Herbert to adjust to his newest weapon. Jim Harbaugh wants to win with a physical run game, but the fact of the matter is you can’t take down the Kansas City Chiefs without an elite passing game. Higgins, McConkey and Herbert would have the potential to be one of the most lethal trios in football, especially when paired with a reliable head coach in Harbaugh and a defense that can make clutch stops.
Main Photo: Sam Greene – USA Today Sports
