The Bengals’ passing offense ranked among the best in the NFL, but it did not lead to the victories necessary to compete for the Lombardi Trophy. Now, they are confronted with a significant free agent dilemma that impacts their passing game.
Tee Higgins is the biggest question for the Bengals, and to say they won’t need him is the furthest thing from the truth.
“Tee is a need, yes,” Joe Burrow said last month (H/t Sports Illustrated) during a press conference. “I know that I’m gonna do what it takes to get him back, and so is he. We’ve had those talks. Those are gonna be offseason discussions, but we’re excited about that opportunity.”
Higgins is expected to be a top choice on many upcoming free agent lists. This is one of the many reasons why the Bengals should never allow him to reach free agency.
Allowing your best players to leave does not help the team win. This is a straightforward idea, but it needs to be articulated. Higgins is clearly the fourth-best player on the roster.
The 25-year-old switched agents midseason and is now represented by Rocky Arceneaux, the same agent that Ja’Marr Chase has been with for the past four seasons. Negotiating with Arceneaux moving forward is expected to be much more reasonable.
The stage is set for Higgins to secure a long-term deal with the Bengals.
One factor that could influence this situation is Ja’Marr Chase, who performed like the best receiver in the league. Given the outstanding season Chase had, he will likely seek to negotiate a contract that could make him the highest-paid route runner in history.
Higgins has deserved his big deal. His quarterback is advocating for him, and the Bengals’ passing game will definitely experience a decline if he is not wearing the orange and black.
