It’s all eyes on Joe Burrow’s extension buzz as the Cincinnati Bengals approach the season opener in Cleveland.
But Tee Higgins isn’t far behind.
Buy Bengals TicketsHiggins, entering the final year of his rookie deal, has been one of the big what ifs? around the team for some time now.
But according to Dan Graziano of ESPN, the buzz can cease because when it comes to Higgins, it’s a case of the waiting game:
But the Higgins deal is not done and might not be anytime soon, as the market for high-end wide receiver deals is likely awaiting resolutions on Justin Jefferson in Minnesota and CeeDee Lamb in Dallas. And the Bengals know star wideout Ja’Marr Chase is eligible for an extension next offseason.
General speculation and logic have suggested Higgins’ extension could happen right before or after Burrow’s gets done, depending on how the structure of the quarterback’s deal plays into the long-term plan.
Burrow himself has commented multiple times about how it’s important for all parties to stay aware of how his long-term deal will impact the team’s ability to keep the likes of Higgins.
But that same logic has pointed to the fact the Bengals have to worry about Ja’Marr Chase next summer, too. And there’s zero argument that Higgins would hit the open market as a No. 1 wideout and get paid like it.
We’ll see what happens in the next few days with Higgins, if anything, or if we even approach a franchise tag situation next offseason. But as expected, it’s all about Burrow as of this writing.