Report: Bengals are trying to sign Tee Higgins long term

[Essex Johnson]

(02-26-2024, 07:40 PM)Isaac Curtis: The Real #85 Wrote: I am not sure that is true. If he has a big year this year his value will go up. Plus, it is a good/deep WR class this year, which depressed value for FA's. Next year, who knows? But a weaker class would help his value  

Further, I have to say the point is not to maximize Tee's value. The point is to put the best team on the field we can and win the SB. Having a late 1st/2nd is no guarantee of finding a guy of Tee's quality, especially Year 1. And if ee butn #18 on a WR, what do we do with RT? There are no young RT studs in FA. 

Having cap space is no guarantee of landing an elite guy. Those are few, teams with spacexare many. What ysually happens is teams end up overpaying guys because they could not land the elite guy, and then are stuck with those bad contracts. 

Additionally, we already have a lot of space. We are #9 in space AFTER tagging Higgins. Tee is the #1 FA WR on the board. 

Tagging Tee for a year (or two) gives us an elite WR tandem & allows our younger WRs to develop. Iosivas, Jones, and whomever we draft/get to fill in for Boyd this year. If one blows up, then you make the trade. Not before. 

I would argue that short term maybe yes to SB this year but with Burrow and Chase going to be in the fold for a while and with other glaring holes to fill I am looking long term also.. and if a trade did happen, I think we would receive probably a #2 and #4 for Tee which is more value and with the amount of WRs coming out of college we have a good chance of replacing him with a one.
Just as you don't like the "if" of finding a replacement in draft, I don;t like the "if" he has a bad year or gets hurt this season we lose value for sure. Plus if we tag him next year, teams know he is a lame duck and we get less .

[dxdtdemon]

I hope that there's a trade set up because he'll be lucky to get 600 yards. I'm surprised that other teams still think that he can play enough of the season that he can be the 1,000+ yard guy he used to be.

[GodFather]

The Bengals better be smart and make one of two decisions and go with it.

1) Re-sign Higgins to a multi-year contract

2) Trade Higgins for high draft picks


The "let's keep Tee for one more run with the crew" crap won't work. First off, we don't know how Burrow will come back after his injury and how long it will be before he plays back to himself. Also, Tee has a serious injury history and to think this is the year he will play injury free is ridiculous. So how realistic is it to expect him to produce it all in one season?  Leran from Jesse Bates and do either choice number 1 or 2 and make the most of it.


AND if they decide to keep him for one more run the Bengals better go all in this year and spend every last penny they have in FA to fill all the needed holes this team needs and actually go "All In"

[*bfine32*]

(02-27-2024, 12:38 AM)dxdtdemon Wrote: I hope that there's a trade set up because he'll be lucky to get 600 yards. I'm surprised that other teams still think that he can play enough of the season that he can be the 1,000+ yard guy he used to be.

Tee Hee

[Bengal Dude]

(02-27-2024, 01:10 AM)GodFather Wrote: The Bengals better be smart and make one of two decisions and go with it.

1) Re-sign Higgins to a multi-year contract

2) Trade Higgins for high draft picks


The "let's keep Tee for one more run with the crew" crap won't work. First off, we don't know how Burrow will come back after his injury and how long it will be before he plays back to himself. Also, Tee has a serious injury history and to think this is the year he will play injury free is ridiculous. So how realistic is it to expect him to produce it all in one season?  Leran from Jesse Bates and do either choice number 1 or 2 and make the most of it.


AND if they decide to keep him for one more run the Bengals better go all in this year and spend every last penny they have in FA to fill all the needed holes this team needs and actually go "All In"

I'm really hoping the Bengals roll with one of those options, but they'll most likely roll with option three. Tee will play this year on the tag and walk after the season.

As for going all in, Duke will never go all in. He doesn't like mortgaging the future and risking draft picks or cap space.

[*Go Cards*]

(02-27-2024, 01:10 AM)GodFather Wrote: The Bengals better be smart and make one of two decisions and go with it.

1) Re-sign Higgins to a multi-year contract

2) Trade Higgins for high draft picks


The "let's keep Tee for one more run with the crew" crap won't work. First off, we don't know how Burrow will come back after his injury and how long it will be before he plays back to himself. Also, Tee has a serious injury history and to think this is the year he will play injury free is ridiculous. So how realistic is it to expect him to produce it all in one season?  Leran from Jesse Bates and do either choice number 1 or 2 and make the most of it.


AND if they decide to keep him for one more run the Bengals better go all in this year and spend every last penny they have in FA to fill all the needed holes this team needs and actually go "All In"

Agree completely that these are the only two smart choices. Everything else is a gamble that Tee will be happy being blocked from longterm contract and be all in for one year run for sa team that didn't want to sign him longterm.  

Just throwing this out there because maybe my Harrison or Bowers scenarios were too high of hopes. 

The #2 ranked WR in the draft is from LSU and certainly friends with Burrow and Chase already and the Bengals fanbase added many of the LSU fans to it recently as well. Plus LSU has a great recent track record of WR's being ready to step right in and go. Seems a logical fit to me at a cheaper trading price. 

Malik Nabers " LSU" is projected as the 11th pick and much easier to trade up for imho. 

Sign the man or trade him and let him get paid elsewhere. Personally I would trade and not put so much money into just the passing game while ignoring other glaring holes.
 

[*Go Cards*]

(02-26-2024, 12:49 PM)Soonerpeace Wrote: Hear me out. If we trade Tee it has to be to move up to get a great WR? Right? Most of those teams need a WR so why not keep their pick and draft one? Like many I think the Bengals will do with Higgins just like Bates but I think we have a chance to re-sign him.

Why didn't teams not trade for Carson Palmer and just select one in the draft ? Why did the Rams coach or owner wear a shirt that said F@#% those draft picks right after winning the SB ? Everybody has different blueprints to success and somebody will trade for Tee out of 31 teams imho. 

Also we have to keep up with KC to even get back. They've bolstered their Defense significantly while the Bengals has gotten worse and am certain they will bolster their WR room this offseason negating our edge there. 

Signing Tee means the Bengals may not be able to get back and believe it is the wrong move. But you're right everything points to the signing. Once again I am a big fan of Tee. 

And no the Bengals do not have to use the traded picks for a WR trade up, just my dream scenario. There will be a good WR available at 18 like the Ravens got in Flowers that would pair nicely with Chase and could use the picks elsewhere. But most importantly it gives Bengals $20 million more to spend in FA on top of the draft picks. Win/Win in my book.   

[Soonerpeace]

(02-27-2024, 08:00 AM)Go Cards Wrote: Why didn't teams not trade for Carson Palmer and just select one in the draft ? Why did the Rams coach or owner where a shirt that said F@#% those draft picks right after winning the SB ? Everybody has different blueprints to success and somebody will trade for Tee out of 31 teams imho. 

Also we have to keep up with KC to even get back. They've bolstered their Defense significantly while the Bengals has gotten worse and am certain they will bolster their WR room this offseason negating our edge there. 

Signing Tee to means the Bengals may not be able to get back and believe it is the wrong move. But you're right everything points to the signing. Once again I am a big fan of Tee. 

And no the Bengals do not have to use the traded picks for a WR trade up, just my dream scenario. There will be a good WR available at 18 like the Ravens got in Flowers that would pair nicely with Chase and could use the picks elsewhere. But most importantly it gives Bengals $20 million more to spend in FA on top of the draft picks. Win/Win in my book.   

There’s definitely different shades of thought. LA went all in and won a SB. It cost them a few years but they won. Buffalo went all in failed and they are screwed. The Bengals need to definitely not turn away any suitors for Tee. But I don’t think anybody wants to take on his salary and rather go FA or the draft. They need to score in the draft. Whatever they’ve got to do they need to get better there.

[Rubekahn29]

(02-27-2024, 10:14 AM)Soonerpeace Wrote: There’s definitely different shades of thought. LA went all in and won a SB. It cost them a few years but they won. Buffalo went all in failed and they are screwed. The Bengals need to definitely not turn away any suitors for Tee. But I don’t think anybody wants to take on his salary and rather go FA or the draft. They need to score in the draft. Whatever they’ve got to do they need to get better there.

For the Rams- which likely had to do more with injuries, It cost them literally 1 year and they were back on the playoffs.

[Isaac Curtis: The Real #85]

(02-27-2024, 01:27 AM)Bengal Dude Wrote: I'm really hoping the Bengals roll with one of those options, but they'll most likely roll with option three. Tee will play this year on the tag and walk after the season.

As for going all in, Duke will never go all in. He doesn't like mortgaging the future and risking draft picks or cap space.

No offense, but he is under team control for 2 more years. He will be here for two more years. Burrow wants him here. 

The only exception would be if he there is a trade that CLEARLY makes us better. Short and long term. A 2nd and a 4th does not. That's DJ Turner & Charlie Jones. 

Plus, given Tee's stature, he isn't leaving for nothing. We'll at least get a 3rd as a result. 

[Soonerpeace]

(02-27-2024, 10:17 AM)Rubekahn29 Wrote: For the Rams- which likely had to do more with injuries, It cost them literally 1 year and they were back on the playoffs.

But Buffalo went all in with Von Miller and now??? 22 unrestricted free agents and 43 million over the cap. So it’s a gamble.

[Rotobeast]

(02-27-2024, 01:20 AM)bfine32 Wrote: Tee Hee

Marvin... is that you ?

Sent from my SM-S515DL using Tapatalk

[lone bengal]

The ultimate goal is to win a superbowl and most fans never witness their team win one in their lifetime. By franchising Tee you’re playing for a superbowl and it doesn’t necessarily hurt the future of the team. If Tee walks next year you can use all that money for his contract and put it towards other free agents. The future is bright with Burrow locked up and Chase soon with a ton of cap space. The Rams comparison is apples to oranges. Stafford was 35 at the time and Von Miller was 33 of course they were all in and they traded all there high picks for outside talent. Two 1st round picks and a 3rd for Stafford, two 1st for Ramsey and a 2nd and 3rd for Miller. Tee helps us win a Super Bowl this year and if he walks the Bengals still have all their picks and a ton of cap space vs the Rams with no picks and no cap space.

[depthchart]

(02-27-2024, 01:43 PM)lone bengal Wrote: The ultimate goal is to win a superbowl and most fans never witness their team win one in their lifetime. By franchising Tee you’re playing for a superbowl and it doesn’t necessarily hurt the future of the team. If Tee walks next year you can use all that money for his contract and put it towards other free agents. The future is bright with Burrow locked up and Chase soon with a ton of cap space. The Rams comparison is apples to oranges. Stafford was 35 at the time and Von Miller was 33 of course they were all in and they traded all there high picks for outside talent. Two 1st round picks and a 3rd for Stafford, two 1st for Ramsey and a 2nd and 3rd for Miller. Tee helps us win a Super Bowl this year and if he walks the Bengals still have all their picks and a ton of cap space vs the Rams with no picks and no cap space.

I agree that the Bengals should NOT do in 2024 what the Rams did to get their most recent Super Bowl win.  IMO

Joe Burrow is only 27 years old and to me it would not be wise to "go ALL in" at this point by Trading away lots of High picks for

one BIG shot at a Super Bowl now.  Getting this Free Agency & this Draft right can give the Bengals a Solid Shot at a Super Bowl

now while still maintaining the ability to keep a Longer Term Window open by retaining Draft Picks going forward.

[007BengalsFan]

(02-27-2024, 10:59 AM)Isaac Curtis: The Real #85 Wrote: No offense, but he is under team control for 2 more years. He will be here for two more years. Burrow wants him here. 

The only exception would be if he there is a trade that CLEARLY makes us better. Short and long term. A 2nd and a 4th does not. That's DJ Turner & Charlie Jones. 

Plus, given Tee's stature, he isn't leaving for nothing. We'll at least get a 3rd as a result. 

The 3rd round comp pick is after the regular 3rd round is over so you are essentially getting an early 4th round pick.  The NFL could have just as easily called those comp picks  early 4th round picks.  Whatever the name, those picks are given after the first three regular rounds are over.  Also, there is no guarantee the Bengals could even get a comp pick for Higgins if they add other guys.  Remember all the talk about getting a 3rd round comp pick for letting Jessie Bates leave?  The Bengals didnt get a 3rd round comp pick because they signed Orlando Brown Jr. 

As far as having Tee 2 more years, they dont.  They would need to pay Higgins close to 22 million this season and 26 million dollars next.  People saying Tee is not worth 22 million this year so do you want to pay him 26 million next year?  and if he was worth 26 million a year why wouldnt you just sign him long term for 26 million per year if you thought he was worth that much?  What if Tee pulls his hamstring again this year and misses more games,  would you want to pay him 26 million for another season?  

[*Nate (formerly eliminate08)*]

(02-27-2024, 07:41 AM)Go Cards Wrote: Agree completely that these are the only two smart choices. Everything else is a gamble that Tee will be happy being blocked from longterm contract and be all in for one year run for sa team that didn't want to sign him longterm.  

Just throwing this out there because maybe my Harrison or Bowers scenarios were too high of hopes. 

The #2 ranked WR in the draft is from LSU and certainly friends with Burrow and Chase already and the Bengals fanbase added many of the LSU fans to it recently as well. Plus LSU has a great recent track record of WR's being ready to step right in and go. Seems a logical fit to me at a cheaper trading price. 

Malik Nabers " LSU" is projected as the 11th pick and much easier to trade up for imho. 

Sign the man or trade him and let him get paid elsewhere. Personally I would trade and not put so much money into just the passing game while ignoring other glaring holes.
 

I think we want to sign Tee long term, it is just his agent is asking too much for a top #2 WR. He isn't a #1 yet and to act like he is simply
non realistic especially with his injury history on top of it. I agree with others that we won't be able to trade up far enough to get Bowers 
and especially Harrison, but Malik Nabors is more of a possibility and it is also true that teams like proven players sometimes more than 
unknown draft picks rightfully so.

The thing with us is we need to put our money into the trenches and Chase right now and get cheaper at the skill positions. Trading Tee,
cutting Mixon and adding another talented Draft pick at WR and RB are ways to go about this.

We can add 1 DT, 1 RT in FA and open up the Draft while trading Tee and still adding a WR and another DT and RT, this is very possible.

(02-27-2024, 08:00 AM)Go Cards Wrote: Why didn't teams not trade for Carson Palmer and just select one in the draft ? Why did the Rams coach or owner where a shirt that said F@#% those draft picks right after winning the SB ? Everybody has different blueprints to success and somebody will trade for Tee out of 31 teams imho. 

Also we have to keep up with KC to even get back. They've bolstered their Defense significantly while the Bengals has gotten worse and am certain they will bolster their WR room this offseason negating our edge there. 

Signing Tee to means the Bengals may not be able to get back and believe it is the wrong move. But you're right everything points to the signing. Once again I am a big fan of Tee. 

And no the Bengals do not have to use the traded picks for a WR trade up, just my dream scenario. There will be a good WR available at 18 like the Ravens got in Flowers that would pair nicely with Chase and could use the picks elsewhere. But most importantly it gives Bengals $20 million more to spend in FA on top of the draft picks. Win/Win in my book.   

All great points, we need to bolster our Defense more than anything and if that means moving on from Tee, so be it. Love the guy, but his
agent is clearly a punk. The good thing is if we really want to put said punk agent in his place we can Tag Tee two years in a row if we want
to, the Bengals have the upper hand here and if I was Tee I would just take the multi year contract that the Bengals have offered if it is fair.

I have heard rumblings about the contract offered as I think most on here have and it is about the same as the Tag but longer term.

(02-27-2024, 01:43 PM)lone bengal Wrote: The ultimate goal is to win a superbowl and most fans never witness their team win one in their lifetime. By franchising Tee you’re playing for a superbowl and it doesn’t necessarily hurt the future of the team. If Tee walks next year you can use all that money for his contract and put it towards other free agents. The future is bright with Burrow locked up and Chase soon with a ton of cap space. The Rams comparison is apples to oranges. Stafford was 35 at the time and Von Miller was 33 of course they were all in and they traded all there high picks for outside talent. Two 1st round picks and a 3rd for Stafford, two 1st for Ramsey and a 2nd and 3rd for Miller. Tee helps us win a Super Bowl this year and if he walks the Bengals still have all their picks and a ton of cap space vs the Rams with no picks and no cap space.

Nice post, we are in a lot better position than the Rams at this point with our youth at QB, WR and the fact we have a lot of Cap space.

As much as I would like to trade Tee and upgrade other positions, namely the DT spot, getting a SB win with Tee would be ideal, love the guy
and he grew up a Bengals fan. We can still upgrade DT and RT and stay young while keeping Tee on the Tag this year. There are ways.

[*Go Cards*]

(02-27-2024, 10:14 AM)Soonerpeace Wrote: There’s definitely different shades of thought. LA went all in and won a SB. It cost them a few years but they won. Buffalo went all in failed and they are screwed. The Bengals need to definitely not turn away any suitors for Tee. But I don’t think anybody wants to take on his salary and rather go FA or the draft. They need to score in the draft. Whatever they’ve got to do they need to get better there.

On this we can certainly agree.

Will add that some teams have lots of cap space and have to spend money to get to the floor. Others are in cap hell and could not even consider the move. Some teams may think they are a solid WR away from making a run and would rather take a sure thing than use their twenty something pick on one that may not be ready to be a #1 WR out of the gate and view Tee as a #1 more ready. All teams are in different situations. 

Luckily if Bengals trade they will only need to find a #2 WR to replace and much easier to find with Chase drawing all the double coverage, which also inflates Tee's #'s somewhat. Guess that may be a give and take per Tee gets less targets because of Chase as well. Wasted breath lol.

Personally I would trade Tee and try to trade up for LSU WR Malik Nabers who should have a good rapport with Burrow and Chase already. Would also grab a RB, TE or both in draft in 2nd or 3rd round, even if Mixon is kept. 
 
Then use the extra cap money added this year, plus the 20 million saved from Chase and buy a RT and a DT like Justin Madubuike.

But do get they probably will not see it the way I do and it is much harder to pull trigger when you have a personal relationship with the player. Yet it is a business. 

[*Go Cards*]

(02-27-2024, 03:22 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: I think we want to sign Tee long term, it is just his agent is asking too much for a top #2 WR. He isn't a #1 yet and to act like he is simply
non realistic especially with his injury history on top of it. I agree with others that we won't be able to trade up far enough to get Bowers 
and especially Harrison, but Malik Nabors is more of a possibility and it is also true that teams like proven players sometimes more than 
unknown draft picks rightfully so.

The thing with us is we need to put our money into the trenches and Chase right now and get cheaper at the skill positions. Trading Tee,
cutting Mixon and adding another talented Draft pick at WR and RB are ways to go about this.

We can add 1 DT, 1 RT in FA and open up the Draft while trading Tee and still adding a WR and another DT and RT, this is very possible.


All great points, we need to bolster our Defense more than anything and if that means moving on from Tee, so be it. Love the guy, but his
agent is clearly a punk. The good thing is if we really want to put said punk agent in his place we can Tag Tee two years in a row if we want
to, the Bengals have the upper hand here and if I was Tee I would just take the multi year contract that the Bengals have offered if it is fair.

I have heard rumblings about the contract offered as I think most on here have and it is about the same as the Tag but longer term.


Nice post, we are in a lot better position than the Rams at this point with our youth at QB, WR and the fact we have a lot of Cap space.

As much as I would like to trade Tee and upgrade other positions, namely the DT spot, getting a SB win with Tee would be ideal, love the guy
and he grew up a Bengals fan. We can still upgrade DT and RT and stay young while keeping Tee on the Tag this year. There are ways.

agree as usual

[*Go Cards*]

(02-27-2024, 12:35 PM)Rotobeast Wrote: Marvin... is that you ?

Sent from my SM-S515DL using Tapatalk

Always enjoy Bfines takes, but found this funny per can hear Marvin giggling Tee Hee now

[Soonerpeace]

(02-27-2024, 01:43 PM)lone bengal Wrote: The ultimate goal is to win a superbowl and most fans never witness their team win one in their lifetime. By franchising Tee you’re playing for a superbowl and it doesn’t necessarily hurt the future of the team. If Tee walks next year you can use all that money for his contract and put it towards other free agents. The future is bright with Burrow locked up and Chase soon with a ton of cap space. The Rams comparison is apples to oranges. Stafford was 35 at the time and Von Miller was 33 of course they were all in and they traded all there high picks for outside talent. Two 1st round picks and a 3rd for Stafford, two 1st for Ramsey and a 2nd and 3rd for Miller. Tee helps us win a Super Bowl this year and if he walks the Bengals still have all their picks and a ton of cap space vs the Rams with no picks and no cap space.

In essence there are similarities between LAR & Cincy if Cincy would do what so many long suffering fans want them to do. They want them to spend every cap penny. The Bengals need to tag Tee and if they can make it work great. They are right there but it’s the trenches that need the biggest attention