Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins. Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports

Bengals GM gives definitive response to Tee Higgins trade rumors

Originally posted on Sportsnaut | By Jason Burgos | Last updated 3/1/23

With rumors swirling over the last couple of weeks that the Cincinnati Bengals could trade wide receiver Tee Higgins, the team’s head of player personnel let it be known on Tuesday that the speculation is “ridiculous.”

The NFL world is focused on Indianapolis this week with the 2023 NFL Combine underway. While the event is supposed to be about this year’s NFL Draft prospects showcasing their talents and improving their draft stock, it has also become a source of news and speculation, and many team officials get to offer up their thoughts in media scrums.

On Tuesday, Bengals general manager Duke Tobin was asked about the biggest rumor surrounding his team this offseason: talk about a possible trade of Higgins. And the man in charge of roster transactions gave a definitive response to the speculation.

“I’m in the business of making the Cincinnati Bengals better, so trading Tee Higgins is not on my mind," Tobin said. "That’s their problem. They want a receiver? Go find your own. In my opinion, Tee Higgins is a good piece for the Cincinnati Bengals, so the trade stuff is a little ridiculous right now.”

For a second straight season, the man taken with a second-round pick in the 2020 draft racked up over 1,000 yards receiving. However, what made this season’s performance impressive was that he stepped up to become a legitimate WR1 when star receiver Ja’Marr Chase missed several games midway through the year. It only increased his rising value heading into his fourth season with the Bengals.

However, 2023 will also be the final year of his rookie deal, as he is set to make a paltry $2.9 million next season. That may incentivize teams to inquire about Higgins, thinking the Bengals can’t afford to pay two receivers superstar money.

That is why there have been rumors swirling of a possible Higgins trade, as he could serve as WR1 for many NFL teams.

This article first appeared on Sportsnaut and was syndicated with permission.

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