The Cincinnati Bengals were the first team to announce their use of the franchise tag this offseason. Not surprisingly, they used it on wide receiver Tee Higgins, who would have otherwise been hitting the open market.

With the increase in the league’s salary cap, the Bengals saw no reason to hesitate. They placed the tag on Higgins on Monday, which is worth $21.8 million for wide receivers for the 2024 season.

However, the tone of the team’s director of player personnel, Duke Tobin has changed from what it was last year at the combine. Tobin was emphatic that Higgins would not be traded, as many suggested the Bengals would have to move him as retaining him long-term was not feasible.

Tobin pushed back on that nation hard last year. But, this year, he has left the door open for a possible move. While the Bengals still want Higgins to be a part of their team and believe they are better with him, the possibility remains that he could be on the move.

NFL News & Rumors: Tee Higgins & Cincinnati Bengals Updates

“In terms of our intentions going forward and answering hypotheticals of what could and couldn’t come about, I won’t get into that, but we feel like we’re a better team with him,” Tobin said during his session at the Indianapolis Convention Center. “The reason we franchised him is because we would like to have him. He’s not under contract and it’s hard for me to predict all the different scenarios that could happen.”

Commenting on hypotheticals is certainly not easy, as Tobin is correct with that statement. But taking a step back from the comments he made last year is also telling, as the Bengals could be facing the harsh reality that it isn’t possible to keep Higgins beyond a franchise-tagged 2024 season.

That is because things are going to get much more expensive for the franchise in the near future. Quarterback Joe Burrow signed a record-setting extension during the 2023 offseason and wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase is eligible for an extension this offseason.

Can Cincinnati afford to pay both Higgins and Chase massive extensions? That is what the front office and ownership need to figure out, as trading Higgins could be the move the Bengals have to make at some point this offseason.

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