Tee Higgins

Bengals “Likely” To Hit Tee Higgins With Franchise Tag

February 17th, 2025 at 9:43pm CST by Ben Levine

Tee Higgins is generally considered the top offensive free agent, but the Bengals WR might not even make it to the open market. According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero (via NFL.com’s Bobby Kownack), the Bengals are considered “likely” to hit Higgins with the franchise tag if the two sides can’t work out a long-term deal.

According to Pelissero, the Bengals front office is currently focused on signing the star wideout to a long-term pact, and there’s “hope” they won’t have to opt for the franchise tag for the second-straight year. If the organization does ultimately turn to the tag, they’ll effectively be committing to Higgins for yet another season (barring a trade), and they’d still have until the middle of July to work out an extension with the receiver.

The former second-round pick saw his rookie contract expire last offseason, but the Bengals held on to Higgins via the franchise tag. A second-straight franchise tag would be valued at 120% of Higgins’ 2024 earnings, which would come in at $26.2MM. The Bengals would presumably hope that number is a placeholder as they pursue a long-term deal, but it could also represent a slight discount as Higgins pursues a deal worth more than $30MM per year.

Joe Burrow has made it clear that he wants the Bengals to retain one of his top targets, but the organization’s upcoming financial commitments would make a Higgins deal difficult to navigate. Burrow himself is playing on a once-record-breaking extension, and the Bengals have yet to work out a long-term deal with fellow WR Ja’Marr Chase. The organization could theoretically commit a significant chunk of their cap to their three offensive stars, but there’s also a chance the team will just be keeping the trio together for one last run.

The 2024 campaign was one of Higgins’ most productive showings of his career, as he compiled 911 receiving yards and a career-high 10 touchdowns in just 12 games. His recent injury woes only slightly clouded his free agency outlook, as the WR was still expected to have plenty of suitors this offseason. If Higgins is ultimately slapped with the franchise tag, it will bode well for the rest of the free agent class, a group that includes veterans coming off injuries (like Chris Godwin and Stefon Diggs) and veterans who underwhelmed in new spots (like DeAndre Hopkins and Amari Cooper).

Patriots “Really Want” Tee Higgins, WR Expected To Top $30MM AAV

February 12th, 2025 at 10:00pm CST by Ben Levine

As expected, the Patriots will be a main suitor for the top free agent wideout. According to Jason La Canfora of the Washington Post, the organization is focused on signing wide receiver Tee Higgins.

La Canfora spoke to multiple executives about Higgins’ impending free agency, with one GM stating that the Patriots “really want this guy.” The organization has continually been connected to the Bengals star wideout as they look to surround quarterback Drake Maye with as much talent as possible. Back in December, we heard New England would be “heavily involved” in the sweepstakes, and this latest report indicates that Robert Kraft will be willing to open the checkbook.

As one executive told La Canfora, the Patriots owner “rightfully” took plenty of grief for his recent lack of spending, and there’s a belief Kraft will look to right his wrongs via Higgins. With a league-leading ~$131MM in projected cap room, the Patriots should have more than enough wiggle room to make a big splash. For what it’s worth, the organization was a main participant in last offseason’s Calvin Ridley sweepstakes, so the Patriots have already shown a willingness to spend at the position.

Many of the executives polled by La Canfora opined that Higgins will ultimately land a contract that pays him more than $30MM per season. This doesn’t come as a huge surprise considering five WRs (Justin Jefferson, CeeDee Lamb, A.J. Brown, Amon-Ra St. Brown, and Brandon Aiyuk) joined Tyreek Hill at that AAV mark last year. That would also surely be out of the price range for the Bengals, who still have to navigate the upcoming Ja’Marr Chase extension.

There are fair reasons to question Higgins’ standing as a WR1 and/or one of the highest-paid players at his position. However, beggars can’t be choosers, and his spot in the free agent hierarchy means a bidding war should help him eclipse that $30MM AAV mark.

Tee Higgins Open To Staying With Bengals, Views Himself As No. 1 WR

February 11th, 2025 at 10:15pm CST by Sam Robinson

Although Joe Burrow continues to turn up the heat on the Bengals regarding Tee Higgins, the team’s longtime No. 2 wide receiver is viewed as more likely than not to hit the market next month. He will be a top-tier free agent if/when that happens.

Higgins has spoken fondly of Cincinnati, despite his Bengals partnership not including real negotiations since early during the 2023 offseason, and continues to do so. But the five-year veteran’s most recent statement points continue to point toward an exit.

“Obviously, we want to build something here in Cincy, but it’s not in my hands right now,” Higgins said, via FOX19’s Joe Danneman. “So, I’ve got to do what I need to do. If that’s go to another team, then that’s what happens.

“I love it here; I love the city; I love the fans; I love the coaching staff, everything in the building. But, it’s not in my control.”

If the Bengals do not re-tag Higgins — at $26.82MM — staying with the team would be in his control. Though, the market is expected to escalate beyond the Bengals’ rumored comfort zone. De facto Bengals GM Duke Tobin said recently the team would be interested in retaining Higgins at the “right number.” Based on where the franchise is with Ja’Marr Chase and the trajectory of the Higgins (non)-negotiations, it is safe to assume that number is south of what Higgins could fetch in free agency.

Despite Higgins having missed five games in consecutive seasons, bidding is expected to land around $30MM per year. With last year’s free agency dominoes helping Calvin Ridley secure $23MM AAV as the top unattached receiver, it may have been beneficial for Higgins to have been tagged when he was. Higgins, 26, was coming off a down 2023 season (career-low 656 receiving yards); the WR market also did not reside where it does today. At the time the 2024 league year began, Tyreek Hill‘s $30MM-per-year Dolphins contract still led the way at receiver. Now, six wideouts are tied to $30MM-AAV deals. Higgins could soon be No. 7.

The Clemson alum said (via Danneman) he views himself as a No. 1 wideout. That title is not available in Cincinnati, which has placed a higher priority on extending its top target. The price of a Chase re-up almost definitely climbed after the four-year veteran’s triple crown season. A franchise not known for lofty guarantees beyond quarterback will likely need to go well outside its comfort zone to ensure Chase stays on a second contract. These proceedings certainly may drag into the summer; by then, Higgins could be long gone.

Last year’s extension run ended with the Eagles and Dolphins showing that carrying two high-end WR deals along with a franchise-QB salary is doable. Planning a Super Bowl blueprint, Philly re-upped A.J. Brown at $32MM per year and then circled back to DeVonta Smith at $25MM per annum. The Dolphins paid Waddle ($28.25MM AAV) and then authorized a significant guarantee bump on Hill’s $30MM-per-year pact. The Eagles, who also found money for Saquon Barkley (3/37.75), have been far more innovative in terms of contract structure compared to the Bengals. It would take some creativity for Cincinnati to find room for Higgins and have Chase on a WR-record accord.

Burrow has said he would restructure his contract to help the team afford Higgins, whom he has pushed the organization to re-sign for months. This is not exactly a sacrifice, as Burrow’s contract value would not be affected; rather, his payment schedule would change as a result of a restructure. The Bengals are not big on restructures, however, and the team may need to apply a second tag to ensure Higgins stays. Hitting the market when the legal tampering period starts March 10 would trigger a frenzy, as the Patriots will be one of many teams in pursuit.

Burrow’s cap number is set to check in at $46.25MM — $17MM north of its 2024 place — as the higher figures from his 2023 extension kick in. Absent a Burrow restructure, the team is expected to hold more than $46MM in cap space. If the Bengals do not reshuffle Burrow’s deal in an effort to re-tag Higgins and keep him off the market, a difficult conversation between the superstar QB and management will likely take place.

Joe Burrow Addresses Bengals’ Pending Decisions On Tee Higgins, Trey Hendrickson

February 6th, 2025 at 2:35pm CST by Adam La Rose

Joe Burrow is on the books for the foreseeable future, but plenty of uncertainty currently surrounds the outlook for many other key Bengals players. Cincinnati’s franchise passer spoke on Thursday about the team’s financial situation and his role in helping to keep existing the core intact.

Tee Higgins highlights the list of pending Bengals free agents, and Burrow has repeatedly made it clear he views keeping him in place as a vital offseason priority. Higgins is by far the most attractive option set to hit the market at the receiver position, however, and he could approach or even surpass $30MM on a new contract. Retaining the 26-year-old at market value will be challenging given the looming mega-extension which the Bengals were unable to work out with Ja’Marr Chase last offseason.

Burrow also mentioned tight end Mike Gesicki as a pass catcher whom the Bengals should work to retain. The veteran inked a one-year, $2.5MM pact in free agency last year and had a strong debut Cincinnati campaign (65 catches, 665 yards, two touchdowns). He has likely earned a raise as a result, but the same is also true of edge rusher Trey Hendrickson. The 2024 sack leader once again finds himself set to negotiate a more lucrative Bengals pact or entertain the idea of being traded. Burrow said keeping Hendrickson in place will be critical this offseason, while acknowledging a raise will be needed to do so.

“The cap is going up each year,” the former No. 1 pick added during an appearance on ESPN’s First Take (via Kelsey Conway of the Cincinnati Enquirer). “We just got new TV deals. And, you know, we all want to stay together, so we’re all going to do what it takes to do that… They’re going to be paid what they’re worth, whether we do it or somebody else. I hope we do it.”

For his part, Burrow also indicated during an appearance on Up & Adams (video link) that he would be willing to restructure his pact to create additional 2025 cap space for the Bengals. As things stand, he is set to carry a $46.25MM cap charge next season; while Cincinnati is projected to sit in the top 10 in cap space this year, lowering that figure would certainly make new deals for Higgins and/or Hendrickson more feasible. It will be interesting to see how Burrow and the Bengals operate over the coming weeks in advance of the new league year in March.

Free Agent Stock Watch: Tee Higgins

February 1st, 2025 at 9:48pm CST by Adam La Rose

Plenty of time remains for the Bengals to prevent Tee Higgins from reaching the open market. As things stand, though, he is on track to be the top wideout available in free agency and one of the most in-demand players at any position in 2025.

Higgins played out this past campaign on the franchise tag (making him the only recipient from 2024 who did not wind up signing a long-term deal). That is usually an indication a free agent departure is likely, and this case is believed to be no exception. Provided Cincinnati is unable to hammer out a big-ticket contract in the near future, Higgins will likely be in line for one of the league’s latest monster WR deals.

ESPN’s Dan Graziano reports an expectation is in place around the league that the 26-year-old’s next contract could be similar to those signed by Jaylen Waddle (Dolphins) and DeVonta Smith (Eagles) last spring. Waddle’s pact checks in at an annual average value of $28.25MM, while Smith’s contains a total guarantee of nearly $70MM (including $51MM in new locked-in compensation). Graziano notes Higgins could surpass those figures if he reaches the market and a bidding war ensues.

Taking things a step further, colleague Jeremy Fowler adds that many view the Clemson product’s ceiling as being at or above $30MM per year. A pact slightly outpacing Smith’s $25MM AAV is considered the starting point for a Higgins pact, but it would come as little surprise if the figure would up being notably higher. The 2025 free agent class is not teeming with young options at the WR spot in particular, so teams with excess cap space could make a serious run at signing him. The Patriots have already been named as a suitor to watch in that regard.

Higgins has surpassed 900 yards in four of his five Bengals campaigns, proving to be an effective Ja’Marr Chase complement along the way. The latter is in need of an extension, though, and resetting the receiver market (which Justin Jefferson moved to $35MM per year last offseason) may well be necessary to get a deal done. 2024 NFL sack leader Trey Hendrickson is also due a raise, one the Bengals feel they are prepared to pay.

Taking care of those priorities while also managing the cap implications of Joe Burrow‘s $55MM-per-year extension and finding the funds for Higgins will be difficult. Burrow has repeatedly campaigned for the former second-rounder to be high on the team’s to-do list, and de facto general manager Duke Tobin recently spoke about keeping Higgins. Finding the “right number” for a pact to keep him in Cincinnati will – by Tobin’s own admission – be difficult considering the deal he could command from outside parties, however.

Jefferson and five other wideouts (CeeDee Lamb, A.J. Brown, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Tyreek Hill and Brandon Aiyuk) are attached to a deal worth at least $30MM annually. Higgins’ track record does not place him in the same category as those All-Pros, and the fact he has missed five games in both of the past two years could give certain suitors pause this spring. Still, the opportunity to secure a genuine No. 1 wideout (as he would be expected to operate as) in his prime is one teams in need of upgrading through the air will have a hard time passing up.

Higgins’ 2024 tag was worth $21.82MM, so using a second tag would cost the Bengals $26.82MM. Without the ability of spreading out the cap hit generated by that move, it should be considered unlikely at this point. The Bengals have not engaged in negotiations in quite some time, and the most recent known offer fell short of $20MM per year. How high the team is willing to go in the coming weeks will make for an intriguing storyline.

Other pending free agents at the WR position include Stefon Diggs, Chris Godwin, Amari Cooper, DeAndre Hopkins, Keenan Allen and Mike Williams. Higgins stands out compared to each of those names in terms of earning potential, whether he manages to secure a multi-year Bengals commitment or one sending him elsewhere for the first time in his career. Especially if he can approach the top of the position’s market as many feel he will, Higgins will represent the centerpiece of an acquiring team’s free agent efforts.

Bengals Want To Re-Sign Tee Higgins At ‘Right Number’

January 30th, 2025 at 10:45pm CST by Sam Robinson

Duke Tobin has made definitive proclamations on Tee Higgins during each of the past two winters. The de facto Bengals GM declared his No. 2 wide receiver unavailable in trades at the 2023 Combine and then franchise-tagged him last year. Barring a second franchise tag, Higgins is poised to hit the market.

Higgins would vault to the top tier of this year’s free agent crop if not re-tagged, and although Joe Burrow has stumped for the Bengals to keep the high-end Ja’Marr Chase sidekick, Tobin’s latest comments do not point to that being the likely scenario. The veteran personnel exec said the Bengals want to retain Higgins; as could be expected, however, Tobin acknowledged the challenges this effort will bring.

“It’s going to be hard,” Tobin told the Cincinnati Enquirer’s Kelsey Conway on the subject of a Higgins re-signing. “We feel like we have the resources to do it, but it all depends on how the negotiation goes and whether they’re willing to accept wanting to come back at a number that makes sense for everybody. And you know what we do with Tee going forward, I’ve always been very upfront in my desire to have Tee Higgins on our team.

“I’ve never not been upfront about that, and that desire continues, but we have to be able to come together with his representation on what that means and what the right number is for his experience, for his play time, for his production.”

Considering where the wide receiver market has gone and the price hike Chase’s first-team All-Pro season likely will bring, the Bengals will have their work cut out for them regarding any effort to convince Higgins to take a discount. The team already denied the five-year veteran a chance to capitalize on his value in free agency last year, via the tag.

Higgins has changed agents and could certainly sign a deal north of $25MM per year on the open market. Where the cap settles will help shape Higgins’ price, but a two-time 1,000-yard pass catcher becoming available ahead of his age-26 season will ignite a bidding war. The Patriots are among the teams expected to be involved.

The last time true negotiations between the Bengals and Higgins transpired, the team submitted a below-market offer believed to be well south of even $20MM per year. The team has not conducted serious negotiations with Higgins since the first half of 2023; Higgins was the only tagged player last year not subsequently extended. Cincinnati is again free to do so, with the season having ended, and holds exclusive negotiating rights until March 10. But it would take a monster proposal for the Bengals to keep Higgins from testing free agency. Based on Tobin’s comments, it does not appear that should be expected.

“Let’s find something that works for everybody, because he is a guy that we want to have here, and hopefully that can come together, but we have other guys who are trying to take big bites of the apple in other areas, and we’re going to have to balance those as we go forward,” Tobin said.

Tobin did tell Conway he meets with Burrow to start each offseason, effectively keeping the superstar passer in the loop, but the exploding WR market — one that will be set to include a market-setting Chase extension before too long — may talk louder here. Although D.J. Moore is a more accomplished player, his $27.5MM-per-year Bears accord did not involve multiple suitors. Brandon Aiyuk‘s market did, to a degree, as the 49ers let him gauge the market in a complex process. That produced a $30MM-per-year deal with $76MM in total guarantees. That could be the price range for Higgins, as the market’s top five consists of first-team All-Pros. Higgins has yet to make a Pro Bowl.

Some execs are quite skeptical the Bengals, with the $55MM-AAV Burrow deal on their books, will pay Higgins market value, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler adds. With Chase almost definitely set to ask for more than Justin Jefferson‘s Vikings payday ($35MM per to go with $110MM guaranteed), it seems doubtful a Bengals franchise not known for lavish spending will pony up what is necessary.

A second tag would cost Cincinnati $26.2MM. While not too much has come out suggesting that is realistic, it would be a way for the Bengals to either reassess their options — after the team underachieved in 2024 — or obtain value in a trade. Projected to hold more than $46MM in cap space, the Bengals will have until March 4 to apply a second Higgins tag. Otherwise, the team could lose a core player for a mere 2026 compensatory pick.

AFC North Notes: Garrett, Bengals, Ravens

January 16th, 2025 at 4:46pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

Myles Garrett made it clear before the end of the regular season that he has no intention of playing through another rebuild in Cleveland. Crucially, Garrett has asked the Browns for a concrete plan at quarterback after their disastrous 2022 trade for Deshaun Watson crippled the offense for much of the last three seasons. On the latest episode of Hard Knocks: In Season With the AFC North, Garrett revealed that he has discussed the Browns’ future with general manager Andrew Berry, who agreed that changes need to be made. The conversation appears to have warmed Garrett to the team’s direction.

“How are we gonna make the most of all the talent that is here?,” Garrett said. “We’re closer than some may think we are.”

Garrett has somewhat of a point. The Browns’ 3-14 record doesn’t reflect the talent of their roster, but it does represent their rudderless quarterback situation. In 2025, defenders like Denzel Ward and Greg Newsome will be back from injuries, while offensive playmakers like Jerry Jeudy and David Njoku can build on solid 2024 seasons.

Watson, meanwhile, re-tore his Achilles and could miss the entire season. The only Browns quarterback under contract in 2025 is former fifth-rounder Dorian Thompson-Robinson, who is 1-4 as a starter with a career passer rating of 45.2 and completion rate of 52.6%. Bailey Zappe will be easy to retain as a restricted free agent, but he is a marginal upgrade on Thompson-Robinson at best.

The Browns will have to convince Garrett (signed through the 2026 season at $25MM per year) that they have a plan under center moving forward. Otherwise, he could demand a trade to facilitate his way out of Cleveland. Here is the latest from the AFC North:

The Browns are facing a pivotal offseason for another longtime player: running back Nick Chubb. Berry made it clear that the team values Chubb and his contributions to the Browns over the seven years, but admitted that his pending free agency was a “challenging situation,” per Chris Easterling of the Akron Beacon Journal. Last offseason, when Chubb was under contract and recovering from his season-ending knee injury, the Browns got him to take a pay cut. Chubb is once again rehabbing an injury – this time a broken foot – but it shouldn’t cost him any of the 2025 season. That will give him more leverage in free agency negotiations, whether that be with the Browns or another team. Though, Chubb’s back-to-back injury-marred seasons will not help the former perennial Pro Bowler.
Two of Cleveland’s young defenders are facing uphill battles to be ready by training camp. Berry is expecting a “months-long” recovery for Michael Hall after his right knee injury, which could involve surgery, per Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot. The status of Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah remains unclear, but Berry “hopes” he can play in 2025, according to Zac Jackson of The Athletic.
Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow is continuing to push his team to re-sign Tee Higgins. “You just can’t let him outside of the building,” he said, per ESPN’s Ben Baby. Burrow has repeatedly told the media that he wants Higgins to stay in Cincinnati, sending a clear message to team decision-makers in the process.
While the Bengals would have to pony up significant money for Higgins – potentially in the region of $30MM per year – they won’t have to pay at the top of the market to retain offensive lineman Cody Ford. His multi-positional versatility is appreciated by the Bengals’ coaching staff, per The Athletic’s Paul Dehner Jr., but he’s unlikely to command the salary of a starting offensive lineman.
Despite a career-high nine sacks in 2023 after signing with the Ravens off the street in September, no other team expressed interest in Kyle Van Noy during the 2024 offseason, per Dan Pompei of The Athletic. He re-signed with the Ravens on a two-year, $9MM deal and played through a fractured orbital socket to rank fourth in the NFL with 12.5 sacks. Doctors recommended surgery after the Week 1 injury, but Van Noy refused to miss a single game.

Patriots To Be “Heavily Involved” In Tee Higgins Pursuit If Higgins Becomes FA

December 29th, 2024 at 12:44pm CST by Rory Parks

The Patriots have fallen short in several wide receiver pursuits this year, missing out on two players who were selected in the first round of this year’s draft – Xavier Worthy and Xavier Legette – and failing to complete a trade for 49ers wideout Brandon Aiyuk despite an aggressive pitch. Armed with a talented young QB in Drake Maye and a great deal of cap space, New England could certainly renew its efforts to land a top-flight pass catcher in 2025.

Enter the Bengals’ Tee Higgins, who is playing out the current season on the franchise tag and who has long been expected to hit the open market in March 2025. Indeed, Mike Giardi of the Boston Sports Journal says the Pats will be “heavily involved” in the Higgins sweepstakes if the Clemson product should become available.

While many of the reasons underlying the expectation that Higgins will hit free agency are still present – including, for instance, the mega-deal that the Bengals are planning to authorize for fellow WR Ja’Marr Chase at some point – there have been several recent developments that could increase the odds that he will remain in Cincinnati. Quarterback Joe Burrow has expressed his confidence that the club will do what it can to keep its enviable 1-2 receiver tandem intact, and Higgins’ recent change in representation could also be viewed as a sign that he hopes to stay in the Queen City.

It will nonetheless be difficult for the Bengals to keep both Chase and Higgins in the fold, so there is still a good chance that Higgins will defect to another club in a few months’ time (assuming Cincinnati does not deploy a second franchise tag, which could be cost-prohibitive). With a league-leading ~$131MM in projected cap room, money would be no object for the Patriots.

As Giardi observes, however, Higgins may not want to take his talents to Foxborough. Although Maye has shown promise, he is far from a proven commodity at this point, and under the stewardship of offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt, the Patriots rank near the bottom of the league in terms of both total offense and points per game. The club added two receivers in this year’s draft in Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker, but neither player has made an impact on a unit that generally lacks high-end talent.

More draft picks, a possible OC change, and more free agent dollars invested in the offense could of course lead to improved output, and Higgins would certainly be a key piece of such a turnaround. On the other hand, he should have a number of suitors, and it is fair to wonder if New England will represent his ideal landing spot, especially since he will presumably not have a player of Chase’s caliber to draw the attention of opposing defenses.

Following a dominant performance in a must-win game against the Broncos last night, Higgins has posted career-highs in terms of yards per game (78.0) and touchdowns (10). Despite missing five games due to injury in 2024, he is also approaching career-best marks in targets and receptions.

Bengals’ Tee Higgins Changes Agents

December 13th, 2024 at 12:18pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

DECEMBER 13: Rocky Arceneaux and Caitlin Aoki are now officially listed as Higgins’ agents, as noted by ESPN’s Ben Baby. Arceneaux is also Chase’s agent, so the developments which take place at the negotiating table on both fronts this offseason will have a notable common denominator.

DECEMBER 12: Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins has parted ways with his agent, David Mulugheta, according to Kelsey Conway of the Cincinnati Enquirer.

Higgins is currently playing on a $21.8MM franchise tag after failing to reach a long-term agreement with the Bengals during the offseason. The star wideout was not expected to remain in Cincinnati after this season, but his agent change and recent comments from Joe Burrow indicate that the tide could be turning.

Higgins’ situation resembles that of ex-Bengals safety Jessie Bates, another Mulugheta client. Bates ended up leaving Cincinnati after his tag year to sign a four-year, $64MM contract with the Falcons. Separating from Mulugheta could be an indication that Higgins is looking to stay with the Bengals instead of testing the open market this offseason.

Still, negotiations between Higgins and the Bengals still face multiple obstacles. The two sides were clearly far apart on their valuation during the offseason, and Higgins’ play this year has likely done little to bring them together together. Higgins has only appeared in eight games in 2024, but when healthy, he’s put up some of the best per-game averages of his career. The Bengals will point to his injuries over the last two seasons as their basis for a lower offer, while Higgins and his agent will argue that he’s avoided injured reserve and been able to produce whenever he is in the lineup.

Further complicating matters will be Ja’Marr Chase‘s expected mega-extension which is expected to equal or even surpass the $35MM annual value of Justin Jefferson‘s contract. Chase’s contract will impact the availability of both cash and cap space in Cincinnati, while another increase in the wide receiver market will lead to higher demands from Higgins.

Burrow’s recent comments have made one thing clear: the Bengals’ top three offensive players want to stay together. It’s easy to see why: their passing attack is one of the league’s best when all three are healthy. Cincinnati will have to get creative – or, just pony up a boatload of money – to keep the core of their offense intact for years to come.

AFC North Notes: Steelers, Bengals, Conklin

December 11th, 2024 at 1:36pm CST by Sam Robinson

Despite their wide receiver depth being an issue throughout this season, the Steelers managed a two-score win over the Browns without George Pickens. The standout Pittsburgh pass catcher suffered a hamstring injury doing post-practice work late last week, and the Steelers exercised caution by holding him out. That strategy is expected to continue against the Eagles in Week 14, with Mike Tomlin pointing to another absence for Pickens. The third-year wideout, who had never missed a game as a pro until Sunday, is battling a grade 2 hamstring strain, per the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Gerry Dulac. Tomlin said this injury has proven to be “a little more significant” than the team initially believed, and this comes at a bad time for the AFC North leaders.

The Steelers face the Ravens in Week 15 and Chiefs in Week 16, those matchups coming on short weeks. While Pittsburgh is two weeks from its Christmas Day matchup with Kansas City, Pickens’ availability for the Baltimore rematch should probably be considered up in the air. The Steelers traded for Mike Williams and have seen flashes, most notably a game-winning TD grab against the Commanders, but the team would be lacking against upper-crust competition if Pickens is sidelined.

Here is the latest from the AFC North:

Perhaps the NFL’s lead underachievers this season, the Bengals are 5-8. A team expected to return to Super Bowl contention has seen its defense crater. This franchise has proven conservative when it comes to many matters, and coaching is among them. As such, Zac Taylor is unlikely to be viewed as a hot-seat occupant, per ESPN.com’s Dan Graziano. This reaffirms the team’s October stance. Though, this certainly does not mean the Bengals will maintain their status quo throughout the coaching staff. DC Lou Anarumo should probably be viewed as a chopping-block candidate given how poorly the once-well-regarded coordinator’s unit has performed. But Taylor, who took over after 16 Marvin Lewis Cincinnati seasons, is believed to be safe. His contract runs through 2026.
Putting up MVP-caliber numbers (without the required record for consideration), Joe Burrow made some noise this week by indicating he will play a role in helping to push for the Bengals to re-sign Tee Higgins. The franchise-tagged wide receiver, who has been viewed as likely to leave in 2025, has said he would like to stay but did not offer much confidence he would re-sign. The Bengals cannot reengage on negotiations, which are not believed to have been serious this year, until season’s end. When the team does, new Higgins representation may be at the wheel. Rumblings have surfaced regarding a potential Higgins agency change, Graziano adds. Such a switch would inject an interesting variable into Higgins’ next round of negotiations. The Bengals hold exclusive negotiating rights with their WR2 until March 10.
Dan Moore Jr. has twice managed to fend off competition to keep the Steelers‘ left tackle job, doing so despite the team using first-round picks on tackles in back-to-back drafts. Troy Fautanu‘s injury did leave the team with fewer options, and Broderick Jones has continued to play right tackle this season. The plan remains for Jones to switch sides in 2025, when Moore is due for free agency. Though, Jones was rumored to be the team’s preferred LT this year. Moore is likely to depart in March, Dulac adds, as they have not shown an indication they are losing faith in Jones. Next year’s Pittsburgh tackle plan will be for their 2023 and ’24 first-rounders — Jones and Fautanu — to start, with veteran Steelers reporter Mark Kaboly leaving little doubt about the 2025 starters.
Two nonguaranteed years remain on Jack Conklin‘s contract, and the Browns — facing an unprecedented situation with Deshaun Watson — will need cap space. They will almost definitely look to Conklin’s deal, with The Athletic’s Zac Jackson noting the team will either restructure it or move it off the payroll via a post-June 1 cut. Conklin, 30, has returned from a second career ACL tear, coming back after missing 16 games last season and five this year. The quality starter’s injury history will factor into Cleveland’s 2025 decision.

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