May the Bengals commerce one in all Joe Burrow’s favourite targets?

The Cincinnati Bengals boast one of many youthful rosters within the league, however identical to another NFL group, they should take care of the opportunity of dropping their costly stars.

After a disappointing playoff loss to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs, the Bengals will look to the offseason to rebuild and doubtlessly lengthen some huge names.

With one eye on the Lamar Jackson fiasco in Baltimore, quarterback Joe Burrow is predicted to barter a long-term extension within the coming months, and one other high-profile participant who might get his bag is one in all Burrow’s favourite targets, Tee Higgins.

Amid rumors of Higgins’ tenuous future with the franchise, some key details should be addressed. Higgins just isn’t a pending free agent and is quite coming into the ultimate 12 months of his rookie deal, price $4 million. For all intents and functions, Higgins will keep beneath contract with the Bengals till 2024.

If — and provided that — Higgins and the Bengals don’t conform to an extension by subsequent offseason, Cincinnati would then be open to commerce talks and doubtlessly deal him for a first-round decide, just like the Tennessee Titans buying and selling away A.J. Brown or the Minnesota Viking’ buying and selling away Stefon Diggs. That a lot was indicated in The Athletic’s Paul Dehner’s piece (subscription required) on Higgins’ choices transferring ahead.

Higgins himself responded to the latest commerce hypothesis with a laughing emoji, seeming to suggest all that speak was pure nonsense.

Cease overreacting: Cincinnati Bengals nonetheless have time to hash out an extension with WR Tee Higgins

The 23-year-old wideout put collectively his second consecutive 1,000-plus yard season in 2022 and has managed to keep away from severe accidents, which ought to work properly in his favor to safe a profitable, long-term deal. When fellow teammate Ja’Marr Chase needed to miss time, Higgins stepped up because the Bengals’ No. 1 receiver with out batting a watch. When the 2 are on the sphere collectively, Higgins’ athletic contested catch talents pair properly with Chase’s quickness and explosion after the catch.

The Bengals’ passing offense wouldn’t be the identical with out both of them, and likelihood is the group will let Higgins play out his contract and both lengthen and even franchise tag him in 2024 (very like the Jessie Bates’ state of affairs, however hopefully much less tumultuous).

Yearly, the strain mounts on Cincinnati to increase its stars and maintain its younger nucleus intact. Burrow, Higgins, and Chase are three of essentially the most outstanding gamers presently enjoying on their rookie offers, and whereas the league-wide elevated wage cap affords the group just a little extra leeway in squeezing in impending extensions, the entrance workplace nonetheless has loads of numbers to crunch this offseason.