INDIANAPOLIS — Cincinnati Bengals CEO Duke Tobin emphasized how good a roster can be when wide receiver Tee Higgins is on it.
But unlike last year's NFL scouting combine when Toppin flatly shot down the idea that Higgins could be on the move, Cincinnati's director of player personnel left the door somewhat open when he spoke to reporters on Tuesday.
“In terms of our intentions going forward and answering assumptions about what can and can't happen, I won't get into that, but we feel like we're a better team with him,” Tobin said during his session at the conference. Indianapolis Convention Center. “The reason we're franchising him is because we want to have him. He's not under contract and it's hard for me to predict all the different scenarios that could happen.”
The Bengals officially placed the franchise tag on Higgins on Monday. This guarantees Cincinnati the right to sign Higgins to a one-year, $21.8 million deal for next season. Higgins, a second-round pick in the 2020 draft, is at the end of an expiring rookie contract.
Once the NFL announced each team's salary cap in 2024, the Bengals did not delay the decision to give Higgins the franchise tag, Toppin said. In a breakout session with local reporters, Toppin also said it's difficult to know how difficult it would be to trade a player to a one-year contract and reiterated the team's desire to have Higgins on the roster for 2024.
“It suits us perfectly, so we tagged him for that reason,” Tobin said. “You know, it's difficult for me to comment on assumptions about what could happen.”
It was very different from what Toppin said in 2023 when asked about potential trade speculation regarding Higgins as he entered the end of his rookie deal.
“I'm working on improving the Cincinnati Bengals, so trading Tee Higgins is not on my mind,” Toppin said in February 2023. “This is their problem. [If] They want a receiver, go find your own receiver.”
Bengals coach Zac Taylor said the call informing Higgins that he had received the franchise tag was short, and he told the recipient how much he valued the relationship with the young playmaker.
“It's the business side,” Taylor said. “I understand it can be frustrating. T didn't give me any of that. We're just excited to attack in the offseason and see where things go from here.”
In four seasons, Higgins has been one of the team's standout playmakers. In his time with the Bengals, he had 257 catches for 3,684 yards and 24 touchdowns. He had more than 1,000 receiving yards in 2021 and 2022, years in which the Bengals won the AFC North and made deep playoff runs, including a Super Bowl LVI appearance.
Last season, Higgins struggled with injuries. In 12 games, he compiled 42 receptions for 656 yards and five touchdowns.
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