Arkansas Bengal Posted January 12 Report Posted January 12 Story by Aaron Gershon • CBS projects Tee Higgins to sign massive contract with Washington Commanders© Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images While less than ideal, the Cincinnati Bengals have a tough road ahead to re-sign standout wide receiver Tee Higgins this offseason, especially with fellow star receiver Ja’Marr Chase just one year away from free agency. Higgins, who played the 2024 season on the franchise tag, will be an unrestricted free agent again this offseason, and it’s hard to see him getting the tag for a second straight season. If Higgins hits the market, he will be the most coveted receiver available. Thus, there are several potential landing spots, but CBS Sports’ Jordan Dajani projects Higgins to land in the Nation’s Capital. Dajani projects Higgins will sign a four-year, $108 million deal with the Washington Commanders, who went 12-5 this season with rookie quarterback Jaden Daniels and are set to play as the No. 6 seed in the NFC Playoffs. “Since Washington hit on Jayden Daniels, general manager Adam Peters understands his “Super Bowl window” is open right now. He made the aggressive move to acquire New Orleans Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore at the trade deadline and could make one or two splash moves this offseason. Our prediction is that Washington signs former Cincinnati Bengals wideout Tee Higgins in free agency to a four-year, $108 million deal that carries an AAV of $27 million,” Dajani wrote. “That would put Higgins in the top 10 of highest-paid wide receivers currently.” While no Bengals fan wants to see Higgins leave, it would be an easier pill to swallow if he lands in the NFC. https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/cbs-projects-tee-higgins-to-sign-massive-contract-with-washington-commanders/ar-BB1rjHIP?ocid=hpmsn&cvid=6ed863d551124b89a42c0f7184a0c43e&ei=202 Quote
Cricket Posted January 12 Report Posted January 12 4-years, $108 million sounds like something the Bengals could do, right? Quote
SmoothD Posted January 12 Report Posted January 12 They already have a No.1 with Terry McLaurin. The teams that will throw stupid money at Tee will be the Titans, Jaguars, and Panthers. Quote
|ArmyBengal| Posted January 12 Report Posted January 12 those figures are close to another franchise tag. I believe it's up to 26 mil. Does it make sense to tag him to at least get something in trade? And only after the Bengals FO felt they no longer felt confident in resigning him. Lots of assumptions on what the FO plan is. I'm thinking they don't really know. I believe it's a value proposition. They'll sign him if the price is right. Yes, an obvious conclusion. Quote
Cricket Posted January 12 Report Posted January 12 17 minutes ago, ArmyBengal said: those figures are close to another franchise tag. I believe it's up to 26 mil. Does it make sense to tag him to at least get something in trade? And only after the Bengals FO felt they no longer felt confident in resigning him. Lots of assumptions on what the FO plan is. I'm thinking they don't really know. I believe it's a value proposition. They'll sign him if the price is right. Yes, an obvious conclusion. 2nd tag would be AT LEAST 20% higher…which would be $26.16 million. Quote
dex Posted January 12 Report Posted January 12 58 minutes ago, Cricket said: 4-years, $108 million sounds like something the Bengals could do, right? When you are talking about the Bengals with player agents, the biggest factor is guaranteed money. Bengals do not guarantee non-QB contracts to the extent the rest of the NFL does. Not only will that have to change to sign Higgins, it will definitely have to change to get Chase's name on a signed contract. 1 Quote
Le Tigre Posted January 12 Report Posted January 12 1 hour ago, Arkansas Bengal said: Dajani projects Higgins will sign a four-year, $108 million deal with the Washington Commanders 2 Quote
T-Dub Posted January 12 Report Posted January 12 I project I could toss together a plate of nachos during the next ad break but if I mix that with another cup of coffee I'm gonna be watching the end of this game from the throne. 1 Quote
-GoBengals- Posted January 13 Report Posted January 13 1. talk me out of tagging him again, to take away all of his leverage and any teams even being able to offer him any deal, making him choose playing on the tag again or signing the deal we offer him while tagged. 2. since we franchise tagged him last year, can we use the non exclusive tag so if he signs elsewhere we get 2 first round picks? that would kill his market a little as someone would have to pay 100mil in salary offer AND give up 2 first dound picks. if he leaves we get 2 first round picks... 3. if we plan to sign him, dont we HAVE to tag him, just to prevent competition and being the only offer on the table? or do we think a backroom deal is done and they arent worried about it? Quote
-GoBengals- Posted January 13 Report Posted January 13 so, my brothers barbers nanny, is friends with a guy who knows a guy who used to date the blackburns dry cleaner, and her cousins brother said he heard, when he was at the cas station, that a guy who works at skyline, told him that the bengals night janitor was told that the bengals plan to extend chase and tee with the quickness this offseason to get the stank of this season out of the fans mouths and build momentum for next season. 1 1 Quote
Cat Posted January 13 Report Posted January 13 I am so torn on this. It's evident when he and Chase are on the field at the same time, they are damn near unstoppable. Problem is - do you want to tie up that much money in three players? And factor in how much time Tee misses. But when he in the game - magic. 2 Quote
Jamie_B Posted January 13 Report Posted January 13 The Bengals also need to not do Tee like they did Whitworth, 60% if what other teams are offering wont cut it. They are going to have to at least be competitive. Quote
|Montana Bengal| Posted January 13 Report Posted January 13 8 hours ago, GoBengals said: so, my brothers barbers nanny, is friends with a guy who knows a guy who used to date the blackburns dry cleaner, and her cousins brother said he heard, when he was at the cas station, that a guy who works at skyline, told him that the bengals night janitor was told that the bengals plan to extend chase and tee with the quickness this offseason to get the stank of this season out of the fans mouths and build momentum for next season. I was wondering who it was Quote
|Montana Bengal| Posted January 13 Report Posted January 13 Isn't re-signing Tee just as much about making Joe happy? Quote
UncleEarl Posted January 13 Report Posted January 13 It's hard to say this, but I think it's best to let Tee move on. If he wants top dollar, it would be foolish to pay him based upon his injury history. It's not like he is going to get healthier as he ages. Burrow may not like it, but I think it's best for the team in the long run. Sign up Chase and let the chips fall where they may. Watching the playoffs and seeing all the time guys like Allen and Hurts get it makes me wonder what kind of numbers Burrow could put up with a good OL. 1 Quote
Jamie_B Posted January 13 Report Posted January 13 24 minutes ago, UncleEarl said: It's hard to say this, but I think it's best to let Tee move on. If he wants top dollar, it would be foolish to pay him based upon his injury history. It's not like he is going to get healthier as he ages. Burrow may not like it, but I think it's best for the team in the long run. Sign up Chase and let the chips fall where they may. Watching the playoffs and seeing all the time guys like Allen and Hurts get it makes me wonder what kind of numbers Burrow could put up with a good OL. This year's draft is weak at WR. If Burton wasn't such a shithead, I'd be on this, but he's made it tough. If they let Tee go they have to find a bridge WR, the guy I would love to have if Aaron Rodgers is indeed retiring or the Jets letting him go. (Assuming they would also let this guy go) is Devonte Adams. He can't command Tee money at his age I wouldn't think. Quote
UncleEarl Posted January 13 Report Posted January 13 3 minutes ago, Jamie_B said: This year's draft is weak at WR. If Burton wasn't such a shithead, I'd be on this, but he's made it tough. If they let Tee go they have to find a bridge WR, the guy I would love to have if Aaron Rodgers is indeed retiring or the Jets letting him go. (Assuming they would also let this guy go) is Devonte Adams. He can't command Tee money at his age I wouldn't think. Adams is a bit of a problem child, but Burrow may be the kind of QB that can keep him in line. I just see Higgins looking like Green when he started getting dinged. The injuries just kept coming. The back end of that deal won't look good at all, then you have to look at cutting him and the circus that would create. 1 Quote
Jamie_B Posted January 13 Report Posted January 13 9 minutes ago, UncleEarl said: Adams is a bit of a problem child, but Burrow may be the kind of QB that can keep him in line. I just see Higgins looking like Green when he started getting dinged. The injuries just kept coming. The back end of that deal won't look good at all, then you have to look at cutting him and the circus that would create. It's mostly been his hamstring, nothing else right? IIRC he said he was going to go do some doc or physical therapist that some other guy who was having those issues, but got it worked out, was going to in the offseason. Wish I could remember the specifics of that. Quote
UncleEarl Posted January 13 Report Posted January 13 6 minutes ago, Jamie_B said: It's mostly been his hamstring, nothing else right? IIRC he said he was going to go do some doc or physical therapist that some other guy who was having those issues, but got it worked out, was going to in the offseason. Wish I could remember the specifics of that. Hamstring in September, quad in October, ankle at the end of the season. Quote
T-Dub Posted January 13 Report Posted January 13 4 hours ago, UncleEarl said: It's hard to say this, but I think it's best to let Tee move on. If he wants top dollar, it would be foolish to pay him based upon his injury history. It's not like he is going to get healthier as he ages. Burrow may not like it, but I think it's best for the team in the long run. Sign up Chase and let the chips fall where they may. Watching the playoffs and seeing all the time guys like Allen and Hurts get it makes me wonder what kind of numbers Burrow could put up with a good OL. You're assuming the money not spent on Higgins would be invested in a good OL. I don't have that much faith in this FO. We know Higgins is an elite talent. The free agents they might sign instead have no such guarantees. 1 Quote
|High School Harry| Posted January 13 Report Posted January 13 6 minutes ago, T-Dub said: You're assuming the money not spent on Higgins would be invested in a good OL. I don't have that much faith in this FO. We know Higgins is an elite talent. The free agents they might sign instead have no such guarantees. Re-signing Tee is like adding another first round draft choice. And one not starting from scratch with learning the system and chemistry. Just git' 'er done. 5 Quote
T-Dub Posted January 13 Report Posted January 13 16 minutes ago, High School Harry said: Re-signing Tee is like adding another first round draft choice. And one not starting from scratch with learning the system and chemistry. Just git' 'er done. Nah they can draft his replacement no problem. Some real bargains in the 3rd round I'm told. 🎰 2 Quote
sparky151 Posted January 13 Report Posted January 13 1 hour ago, T-Dub said: You're assuming the money not spent on Higgins would be invested in a good OL. I don't have that much faith in this FO. We know Higgins is an elite talent. The free agents they might sign instead have no such guarantees. Overall, this looks like a a thin free agent crop. Tee would be one of the top 5 available. If they wanted to replace him in the draft, the most comparable player would be Tetaroa McMillan from Arizona but he'll be gone before we pick in round 1. At 17 we might be able to get Luther Burden III from Missouri or Emeka Egbuka from OSU. The latter are both more Tyler Boyd upgrades than Higgins replacements. Extending Tee is easily affordable for the team if the will is there to do it. Last year he said he would have taken the deal that Michael Pittman got from the Colts. That was 3/70 but the WR market has moved up since then. 3/80 would be comparable to the proposed offer from Washington. If he's giving a discount, 24 or 25 mil per year would be good for the team. He became eligible for an extension after the final game of the season and Bengals have exclusive negotiating rights until the legal tampering period just before the start of the new league year in March. At worst, the Bengals should tag Tee in late February. If another team tried to outbid us for him, we'd get 2 first round picks. Nobody would pay that much for him but we could trade him for less if we choose. If the team isn't willing to pay him what he wants, we should trade him for fair value, ie at least an early 2nd and perhaps a late 1st, depending on which teams are after him. 1 Quote
T-Dub Posted January 14 Report Posted January 14 3 hours ago, sparky151 said: Overall, this looks like a a thin free agent crop. Tee would be one of the top 5 available. If they wanted to replace him in the draft, the most comparable player would be Tetaroa McMillan from Arizona but he'll be gone before we pick in round 1. At 17 we might be able to get Luther Burden III from Missouri or Emeka Egbuka from OSU. The latter are both more Tyler Boyd upgrades than Higgins replacements. Extending Tee is easily affordable for the team if the will is there to do it. Last year he said he would have taken the deal that Michael Pittman got from the Colts. That was 3/70 but the WR market has moved up since then. 3/80 would be comparable to the proposed offer from Washington. If he's giving a discount, 24 or 25 mil per year would be good for the team. He became eligible for an extension after the final game of the season and Bengals have exclusive negotiating rights until the legal tampering period just before the start of the new league year in March. At worst, the Bengals should tag Tee in late February. If another team tried to outbid us for him, we'd get 2 first round picks. Nobody would pay that much for him but we could trade him for less if we choose. If the team isn't willing to pay him what he wants, we should trade him for fair value, ie at least an early 2nd and perhaps a late 1st, depending on which teams are after him. I'm also leaning towards that non-exclusive tag as Go suggested. It'd let them kick the can for another year at a set cost while they negotiate extensions for Chase & Henderson with a fair amount left over to go shopping with in FA. Worst case it's a pair of first round picks & they can still do something for him long-term without a bidding war. Tee might not like it but for north of $25M guaranteed I think he'd get over it. Quote
-GoBengals- Posted January 14 Report Posted January 14 14 hours ago, Cat said: I am so torn on this. It's evident when he and Chase are on the field at the same time, they are damn near unstoppable. Problem is - do you want to tie up that much money in three players? And factor in how much time Tee misses. But when he in the game - magic. with a non-surprise Tee absence the offense did great without him too, but there is nothing like having them both. the injuries are the ONLY thing that has me second guessing. probably no chance they can get an injury clause in there. 11 hours ago, Montana Bengal said: I was wondering who it was 🤫 11 hours ago, Montana Bengal said: Isn't re-signing Tee just as much about making Joe happy? Meh, Joe will be a happy panda no matter what. he has chase and an offense he is very involved in and succeeds at an incredible level. 10 hours ago, UncleEarl said: It's hard to say this, but I think it's best to let Tee move on. If he wants top dollar, it would be foolish to pay him based upon his injury history. It's not like he is going to get healthier as he ages. Burrow may not like it, but I think it's best for the team in the long run. Sign up Chase and let the chips fall where they may. Watching the playoffs and seeing all the time guys like Allen and Hurts get it makes me wonder what kind of numbers Burrow could put up with a good OL. The Ol is tough, and neither of them have a particularly great OL, they are both mobile QBs and make time, the eagles USED TO have an incredible oline, and both have 1 top end guy at least on the OL.. 5 hours ago, T-Dub said: You're assuming the money not spent on Higgins would be invested in a good OL. I don't have that much faith in this FO. We know Higgins is an elite talent. The free agents they might sign instead have no such guarantees. that money is tough, as the OL talent isnt really gradual in decline like many other positions, its as if there isnt a second tier of guys.. its Legends worth 20-30mil a year and then like 60 guys who are serviceable to above average. then like 100 guys who kinda suck, but are on good lines so its hidden slightly. then there is volson and cappa this year. 25 minutes ago, T-Dub said: I'm also leaning towards that non-exclusive tag as Go suggested. It'd let them kick the can for another year at a set cost while they negotiate extensions for Chase & Henderson with a fair amount left over to go shopping with in FA. Worst case it's a pair of first round picks & they can still do something for him long-term without a bidding war. Tee might not like it but for north of $25M guaranteed I think he'd get over it. I would dig the tag again, but i truly think they get it done and quickly once the offseason is open for business in March. Quote
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