will the bengals trade tee higgins?

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Cincinnati, Ohio (PSF) —Recent reports suggest the Cincinnati Bengals are considering shopping wide receiver Tee Higgins with his rookie deal set to expire after the 2023 season. Early indications are that Higgins is asking for an enormous amount of money the Bengals aren’t willing to spend.

Star quarterback Joe Burrow will be getting a massive extension that will likely make him one of the highest-paid quarterbacks, and Ja’Marr Chase will also command a hefty salary. As a result, Higgins’ extension takes a back seat. While he has proven to be quite valuable to the Cincinnati offense, Higgins is far from the centerpiece of the offense. With the relatively weak free agency class at wide receiver, teams looking for a high-end receiver will have to explore other avenues. DeAndre Hopkins and Brandon Aiyuk are just a couple of players that could be available this offseason.

It is hard to imagine anyone would get more in return than the 24-year-old Higgins. He’s coming off back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons and possesses the skills to be a #1 option in the right offense. The Bengals shouldn’t be going out of their way to move Higgins, but for the right price, it could be worth it. Not only would it save them money in the long run, but they would also receive multiple early draft picks. Higgins’ youth and talent far exceed that of top free agents such as Jakobi Meyers, Allen Lazard, and DJ Chark, and amid the uncertainty of the receiver prospects in the 2023 draft, Higgins’ trade value has never been higher.

The Bengals' front office is facing one of their first tough decisions of the Joe Burrow era, and with the team poised for another deep postseason run, it’s worth questioning if major changes are necessary.