The Cincinnati Bengals have had some bumps in the road to kick off their 2024 offseason but none bigger than their situation with star wide receiver Tee Higgins. Higgins has been looking for a new contract from Cincinnati and believes that he should be paid as one of the better wideouts in the NFL.

To date, the Bengals and Higgins haven’t been able to come to terms on a new deal, with some reports stating that the two sides haven’t discussed terms in over a year.

The Bengals franchise tagged him prior to free agency to avoid him walking away for nothing. Higgins wasn’t a fan of this decision and has made it clear that he isn’t happy.

He requested a trade earlier in the offseason but has seemed to soften his stance on a move out of the Queen City. Higgins had been holding out on voluntary OTA’s and has now missed mandatory offseason camp while he waits for a new deal. However, we now have news that Higgins has agreed to put things behind him and move forward.

According to NFL insider Adam Schefter of ESPN, Higgins is signing his franchise tender and will report to training camp later this summer.

Schefter prefaced this news by saying that a long-term deal between the two sides is still seen as a long shot. The team still has to pay star wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase as well. Higgins will make $21.8 million this coming season playing on the franchise tag. It’s always a risk for players to play on the tag but Higgins is looking for a big payday so a successful season is needed.

The news about Higgins is great for the Bengals as they enter the 2024 NFL season. Cincinnati is looking to bounce back from a down 2023 season that saw quarterback Joe Burrow sidelined after just 10 games due to multiple injuries. Having Higgins alongside Chase on the field gives the Bengals a scary two-headed duo that makes life very tough on opponents. In the two seasons that Burrow has remained healthy, he has led this team to the AFC Championship and Super Bowl.

Burrow having access to his two key weapons on the field is a major factor in the success that the team has seen. Higgins is a professional through and through, and he clearly understands what his value is to the team. He will get paid by somebody, even if it’s not the Bengals. Higgins is far too talented to sit out over a contract dispute. If he performs well on the field this season could net him even more money than he could have imagined.