Trade rumors involving Tee Higgins aren’t going away any time soon.

The Bengals utilized the franchise tag to prevent him from hitting the open market even though he was originally scheduled to become a free agent after the 2023 season. The idea behind this mechanism is to give players and organizations who are having trouble coming to long-term agreements more time to negotiate.

Sadly, Cincinnati has not experienced that. According to earlier reports, Tee Higgins has officially sought a trade and the Bengals have not attempted to extend his contract. Even though Higgins is a fantastic player, the Bengals must budget for both Joe Burrow’s growing salary price and the eventual extension of Ja’Marr Chase. Teams have to let go of good players in the age of salary caps, and it looks like Higgins will need to sign a long-term contract with a different team.

Although Tee Higgins’ long-term destination may be elsewhere, head coach Zac Taylor gave the impression that the Bengals have no intention of trading Higgins in the near future. In an interview with reporters, Taylor expressed his desire for the previous second-round selection to assist this club in winning a title in 2024.

“We’re hoping Tee has a fantastic year for us. He seems to be our best chance to assist us in winning the Super Bowl. The past four years have been enjoyable working with Tee, and I anticipate that this year will be no different.

Although Taylor claims he wants Tee Higgins to stay, it’s possible that he’s attempting to increase the value of his trade. Despite the abundance of potential at the position in the 2024 NFL Draft class, dependable wide receivers are difficult to come by. For Higgins’ services, the Bengals are currently thought to have a Day 2 pick, and Taylor may be attempting to incite a bidding war.

Tee Higgins has the right to try to press for a trade, even if Taylor’s remarks are true. The wide receiver is not technically under contract and is not required to play in 2024 because he has not yet accepted the franchise tag. In the off-season, Higgins may have to be sold by Cincinnati to the highest bidder.