Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins has been the subject of trade rumors recently as he heads into the final season of his rookie contract. While his future is out of his hands to a certain degree, the remarks he made Thursday should provide the Bengals with some encouragement.

Higgins said on NFL Network Thursday that he wants to remain with the Bengals for “a long time” despite rumors linking him to a departure this offseason.

“Hopefully for a long time, I plan on being in Cincinnati for a while,” Higgins said when asked about how long he and the Bengals might remain together.

The Bengals have options with Higgins. Some of their key players are going to become expensive in the years to come, which sparked rumors about Higgins potentially being expendable. The rumors have been enough that some rivals are trying to recruit him.

Ultimately, Higgins’ future may come down to how much he wants on a long-term contract extension. If his asking price is reasonable, he has a better chance of staying where he is.

More must-reads:

TODAY'S BEST
Kings make huge decision on head coach Mike Brown
Oilers beat Stars to take 3-2 lead in WCF
Orioles lose two starting pitchers to season-ending surgeries
Yankees' Aaron Judge, Juan Soto make MLB history with impressive offensive numbers
Caitlin Clark frustrated by physical WNBA play: 'I feel like I'm getting hammered'
Bills give Olympic gold medalist chance in NFL
An epic temper tantrum highlighted Day 6 of the French Open
Broncos' Sean Payton shares promising Bo Nix update amid competition
Celtics HC Joe Mazzulla blasts media for Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown coverage
Pistons parting ways with GM after hiring new head of ops
Mike Tyson-Jake Paul fight temporarily postponed
Suns fill out Mike Budenholzer's coaching staff
Timberwolves boycotted TNT in support of criticized bigs
Watch: Oilers offense responds after big hit on Corey Perry
Seahawks WR doesn’t hold back on praise for QB Sam Howell
Report: Cowboys quietly 'all in' on Dak Prescott decision
Diamondbacks ace heading to injured list with hamstring strain
Golden Knights, key winger have mutual interest but face financial crunch
Pelicans to defer Lakers' first-rounder to 2025
Former top-10 WR pick speaks on retirement regret, comeback try

Want more sports news?

Join the hundreds of thousands of fans who start their day with Yardbarker's Morning Bark, the best newsletter in sports.