Report: Tee Higgins could be traded if extension can't be reached

[CJD]

(02-06-2023, 10:43 AM)TheLeonardLeap Wrote: Mahomes listed cap hit in 2021 is misleading. He had a $21m roster bonus turned into a signing bonus before that season, allowing them to clear up $17.3m in cap space. So his original 2021 cap hit was ~$25m. Not a roster-breaking number, but much much higher than the $7.4m that he ended up with.

Fair enough, but 25M beats 45M . The point is 2023 and 2024 are our lean years, QB cap hit wise. We need to take advantage of these two years because once Burrow's contract kicks in, we're going to have to make sacrifices. Assuming he signs for what people are saying he will (50.3+ million AAV).

Quote:Theoretically they could have Higgins for 2 more years, sure. That is assuming he's willing to play in 2023 for $3m, and is then willing to play in 2024 for the franchise tag with no future guarantees or assurances. Even if he's forced to play from threat of fines or loss of a year of service, will he actually be bringing his best, or will he be making business decisions on the field? You just have to look at Jessie Bates to see that a player can still "play" for you, but not bring his A game. All the while being a bit malcontent. They have the same agent.

Signing a player long term is a double edged sword. Some players will play all out because they know their future is secure. Some players will let up on the gas pedal because they know their future is secure. 

We could make an argument that Bates didn't play all out this season because he was protecting his body for free agency, but if we did sign him to a top 5 safety contract, he may have played about the same, and then people would be saying "See? This is why you don't pay safeties. He's taking it easy out there because he already got the bag!"

Or is the correct term 'Catch 22?'

Regardless, fans can make whatever excuses they want when a player doesn't play up to expectations. I am personally of the belief that players play their best ball in their contract years. They do so because they know their play this year, more than any other year in their career, will define how much money they will make going forward. Look at Germaine Pratt. That guy probably made 20 million dollars based on this year's play (He probably could have re-signed at like 4 years, 15M after last season. Now it may be 4 years, 35M. Or maybe even more) I think that's the negotiating tactic you hold over these players.

"Hey, if you want security, sign long term. Sure, you may not make as much as you would as a free agent, but you'll avoid being in your contract year two years in a row. And you don't want to risk injury costing you millions of dollars, do you?"

If Higgins turned into a malcontent, then you can always trade him for the 1st and a 3rd everyone is saying he's worth, much like AJ Brown had become a malcontent in TEN, but I don't think he would. He seems like a good person and a team first player.