Bengals HC Zac Taylor says Tee Higgins gives team a chance to win Super Bowl

Bengals receiver Tee Higgins requested a trade earlier this month after the team stuck him with the franchise tag. But based solely on the comments of Zac Taylor, it doesn’t sound like Cincinnati will be dealing him.

Taylor was in Orlando earlier this week to attend the NFL Owners meeting. Obviously, reporters asked him about Higgins, given the trade request. Was there an update?

“We’re excited for Tee to have a great year for us,” Taylor said. “We think he’s our best chance to help us win a Super Bowl. I’ve enjoyed working with Tee the last four years, I expect this year to be no different.”

Cincinnati selected Higgins, the former Clemson star, with the 33rd pick of the 2020 NFL Draft. The contract he signed in 2020 ended last season. The Bengals then used the franchise tag on Higgins to kick off the off season. That one-year, fully-guaranteed offer is $21.8 million. Higgins can either accept it and become a free agent next year. Or both sides can negotiate a longer term deal.

Higgins also was only one of nine players in the NFL to receive the franchise tag this year. But it’s also a big negotiating year for some of the best wideouts in the NFL. Others who are negotiating include CeeDee Lamb, Brandon Aiyuk, Jaylen Waddle, Amon-Ra St. Brown and Justin Jefferson.

Plus, you can add Ja’Marr Chase to the group. He also is in line for a better contract. The Bengals selected the former LSU star with the fifth pick of the 2021 NFL Draft. Together, Chase and Higgins are the top two targets for Joe Burrow.

Katie Blackburn, Cincinnati’s executive vice president, said the team wants to keep both its receivers.

“We like these guys. We have to work within the salary cap,” Blackburn told reporters in Orlando. “So we have to figure out what that will mean, and how it can all stay together. That’s just what we have to work on and see where it takes us.”

So far, there hasn’t been much chatter about a potential trade involving Higgins. The Patriots may be in the market for a veteran wide receiver. Of course, they need help everywhere.

Meanwhile, it also doesn’t appear that a new contract is on the immediate horizon for Higgins. Adam Schefter reported earlier this month that sides haven’t spoken about a new deal in the past year.