After failing to agree on a new deal, the Cincinnati Bengals decided to give wide receiver Tee Higgins the franchise tag for the upcoming season. Of course, Higgins would love to get a long-term deal done in Cincinnati, but with the contract extension of Ja’Marr Chase coming as well, there is fear that Cincinnati is just trying to buy themselves one more year of his services before letting him walk. As a result, Tee Higgins has requested a trade.
Of course, the Cincinnati Bengals do not need to respect the wishes of the wide receiver. Higgins is currently forced to sign and play under the franchise tag or sit out, which freezes his status and allows Cincinnati to franchise tag him once more. However, it is a bad look for the organization to do nothing instead of negotiating a new contract or trading their talented receiver.
We also need to quickly address that it’s the Bengals trading Higgins. While this does seem obvious to those with a working brain, there are too many people online who have won a Super Bowl in Madden’s franchise mode that think the Higgins could go to the Kansas City Chiefs. If you think the Bengals would trade the Chiefs Tee Higgins, I have a beach house in Montana that I would love to sell you.
With this in mind, here are three possible Tee Higgins trade destinations.
3 Possible Tee Higgins Trade Destinations
Chicago Bears
It’s clear the Chicago Bears are making it a point to revamp their offense this offseason. They are also a team that has shown to be willing to trade for a big player and immediately give them an extension (Montez Sweat).
The Bears have the cap room and draft compensation in order to pull off a Tee Higgins trade. Higgins would play alongside DJ Moore to create a damn good receiving duo to play alongside tight end Cole Kmet. Add in the fact that Chicago is likely to draft Caleb Williams first overall in the NFL Draft and they are rumored to be interested in a top free agent running back, and all of a sudden this offense has the potential to become one of the best in franchise history (not saying much, but still).
Moving Higgins to an NFC team that isn’t considered a contender also makes sense from the Bengals’ perspective.
Tennessee Titans
For the Bengals to make a Tee Higgins trade inside the AFC, it will likely have to be to a team that doesn’t present an immediate threat. This Tennessee Titans team is as bad as you’ll find on offense, but pairing Higgins alongside DeAndre Hopkins does have the potential to be fun.
A return home to the state of Tennessee could be a great pitch to Higgins as well, not that the Bengals need him to sign off on the trade. However, knowing he is excited to return home could behoove the Titans to send a little more in order to get their long-term WR1.
Arizona Cardinals
There is a strong chance that the Arizona Cardinals lose Marquise Brown to the Washington Commanders, or another team, meaning they would be in need of a true WR1 to play alongside Kyler Murray and Trey McBride. The Cardinals have the cap space needed to extend Tee Higgins, and it would fill a big need that they have this offseason. Sending Higgins to the Cardinals is also not a threat to the Bengals, making this trade more than realistic.
