He requested a trade after the Bengals placed the franchise tag on receiver Tee Higgins. It's been a month and nothing has changed.
But Higgins said Sunday he plans to play for the Bengals this season.
“i expect it'' Higgins said in a video from WXIX-TV's Charlie Clifford. “I developed a love for Cincinnati that I never expected. [I’m] looking forward to it. ”
Higgins and the Bengals have been in talks for two years, but were unable to reach an agreement on a long-term contract. They have until July 15th at 4pm ET to negotiate a new contract.
The one-year, fully guaranteed franchise tag will pay Higgins $21.8 million.
Safety Jesse Bates played on the franchise tag in 2022 and left the Falcons in the 2023 offseason when he signed a four-year contract worth $64.02 million. He earned Pro Bowl honors for the first time last season.
Eight teams have used the franchise tag this offseason, and Higgins and Bucks safety Antwon Winfield Jr. are the only players yet to sign extensions.
Higgins, 25, played in 12 games last season, but missed four games with a broken rib and missed Week 18 with a hamstring issue. He caught 42 passes for 656 yards and five touchdowns, all career lows.
Higgins had 1,000-yard seasons in 2021 and 2022 and had 257 catches for 3,684 yards and 24 touchdowns in four seasons in Cincinnati and was a second-round pick in 2020.