By Blessing 
The Cincinnati Bengals face a critical task this offseason: securing wide receiver Tee Higgins with a long-term contract. If they don’t want to risk losing the 26-year-old to free agency or resorting to another costly franchise tag, they must strike a deal before mid-March.
Quarterback Joe Burrow has emphasized the importance of keeping Higgins multiple times. Head coach Zac Taylor agrees, and the entire organization is aligned in their desire to get it done. Adding to that chorus is franchise legend and Higgins’ former teammate, A.J. Green.
Green, who understands what Higgins is experiencing, dealt with a similar situation during his time in Cincinnati. He didn’t sign a major deal until right before his fifth season and later had to play under the franchise tag, including in 2020 when he shared the field with Higgins.
On a recent episode of the Wincinnati Podcast, Green praised Higgins’ abilities and offered some advice. “He has a great quarterback,” Green said. “And you find a great quarterback to play with, I’m telling you, better stick with him.”
Despite only playing one season with Burrow, Green has observed the star quarterback’s growth over the past four years and knows firsthand how important it is for a receiver to have a reliable signal-caller.
Higgins now faces a pivotal decision. Should he stay with Burrow — and Ja’Marr Chase, for that matter — while securing a lucrative deal, or should he prioritize a bigger payday elsewhere and risk having a less talented quarterback for the rest of his career? The Bengals are expected to make him an offer before free agency opens, as deadlines often push negotiations forward.
There’s also no denying that Higgins would be a prized asset in free agency, which could tempt him with significant financial rewards. However, the Bengals could eliminate that choice entirely by using the franchise tag again, though it would consume a chunk of their salary cap.
The ideal outcome is a fair agreement that satisfies both Higgins’ financial goals and the team’s desire to keep him alongside Burrow. As Green suggested, Higgins’ decision could come down to prioritizing a strong quarterback-receiver connection, which he has in Cincinnati.
It’s now up to the Bengals to present an appealing offer without using Burrow’s greatness as leverage. Regardless of how things unfold, having Green as a supportive voice adds another layer of encouragement for both Higgins and the franchise.