Tee Higgins Trade Rumors: NFL Execs Think Bengals Could Land 1st- or 2nd-Round Pick

The Cincinnati Bengals could recoup a significant asset if they were to trade wide receiver Tee Higgins, according to Ari Merov of The 33rd Team.

Merov reported there's a sense the Bengals might be able to land a first-round pick or early second-rounder for the 25-year-old.

Cincinnati announced Monday it applied the franchise tag to Higgins, but that provides few assurances as to his short-term future with the team.

To offer some comparisons in the event Higgins is dealt, the Kansas City Chiefs got five picks, including the No. 29 overall selection in 2022, when they traded Tyreek Hill. The Green Bay Packers received first- and second-rounders in 2022 in the Davante Adams swap. Likewise, the Philadelphia Eagles acquired A.J. Brown at the cost of a first-round pick.

A first-rounder or early second may not be a steep starting price from the Bengals' perspective.

With Higgins, the general question seems to be whether he leaves this offseason or next.

The 2020 second-round pick has been a reliable target for quarterback Joe Burrow, but paying him a market-level contract simply isn't feasible when Ja'Marr Chase is due for a new deal soon as well.

Spotrac values Higgins at $18.6 million annually, a total that may not reflect what he'll ultimately get considering the franchise tag is worth $21.8 million. Chase, meanwhile, has a valuation of $26.1 million.

Tying up $45 million to $50 million in Higgins and Chase on top of Burrow's $55 million salary wouldn't leave a lot to go around.

There's a clear incentive to simply let Higgins play out the 2024 season on the franchise tag because Cincinnati will have lofty ambitions. Trading him could be an equally sensible call, especially if the Bengals get the kind of draft capital that would allow them to target a replacement.