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Bengals | Tee Higgins officially signs Mon Jun 17, 03:37 PM
Cincinnati Bengals WR Tee Higgins officially signed his franchise tag tender, the team announced Monday, June 17.
Footballguys view: Previous reports indicated Higgins would sign the tender, guaranteeing the wideout $21.8 million this season. While the two sides have until July 15 to reach a long-term deal, that's been characterized as a long shot. Nonethelss, Higgins will report to training camp with teammates next month. |
Wide receiver Tee Higgins is officially in the fold for the upcoming season. Higgins signed his franchise tag Saturday, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter. By signing the tag, the fifth-year wide receiver is now expected to be at training camp. Higgins is set to earn $21.8 million this season under the tag. He and the Bengals can still negotiate a long-term deal until July 15, though the likelihood of that seems unlikely.
Footballguys view: ESPN's Adam Schefter went further, advising his X followers a long-term deal for Higgins "is considered a longshot." Higgins missed the entire offseason program while the tag remained unsigned. Earlier in the week, quarterback Joe Burrow said he remained in contact with Higgins since the end of last season and welcomed the idea of throwing with him before training camp begins in late July. Remember, Higgins isn't the only Bengals wide receiver looking for a massive extension. Ja'Marr Chase, a three-time Pro Bowler, is also angling for a new deal. |
Cincinnati Bengals DB Daxton Hill is 'well on his way' to being the starting cornerback opposite of Cam Taylor-Britt, according to Chris Roling of BengalsWire.
Footballguys view: The Bengals brought back Vonn Bell and signed Geno Stone away from the Ravens to revamp their safety position so Hill could make this switch. Opposing quarterbacks will likely test Hill a lot in the early weeks of the season. Early season matchups against Kansas City (Week 2) and Washington (Week 3) could present excellent matchups for one of the opposing receivers if Hill has some growing pains in his transition. |
Cincinnati Bengals WR Tee Higgins is signing his franchise tag tender on Saturday, June 15, per source, and is expected to report to training camp. An extension remains unlikely, though.
Link to storyCincinnati Bengals second-round draft choice DT Kris Jenkins (Michigan) signed a four-year contract on Thursday, June 13. Financial terms of the deal were not immediately disclosed.
Link to storyUpdating a previous report, Cincinnati Bengals C Ted Karras signed a one-year contract extension that will pay him $6.6 million per year through the 2025 season, according to sources Thursday, June 13.
Link to storyCincinnati Bengals C Ted Karras signed a one-year extension Thursday, June 13. Financial terms weren't disclosed.
Link to storyCincinnati Bengals QB Joe Burrow (wrist) told reporters on Tuesday, June 11, that while it is 'tough to say' how close to 100% he is right now, he will be 'ready to go by the (start of the) season.'
Footballguys view: Burrow, who underwent surgery after suffering a season-ending injury on Nov. 16, has been a participant since OTAs began in May. According to SI.com, Burrow told reporters today that he understands why he must take it a little easier this offseason. "It's a constant process," Burrow said about his rest days and injury management. Being ready for Week 1 has been the goal all along, so expect more load management throughout the summer. |
Cincinnati Bengals WR Ja'Marr Chase is attending mandatory minicamp Tuesday, June 11.
Footballguys view: Chase has been away from the Bengals all offseason as he awaits a contract extension. Those sessions were voluntary, This week's session is mandatory. Had Chase skipped the workouts, he would be subject to more than $100,000 in fines. As Profootballtalk.com pointed out, some players on the verge of big contracts have been taking those fines as part of the process, but Chase opted to go a different route. It's possible the market-setting, $140 million contract Justin Jefferson signed with the Vikings last week sets the table for the Bengals and Chase to begin progressing in their talks. We'll continue to watch for more. |
Cincinnati Bengals WR Tee Higgins has not signed his franchise tag tender at this point and is not expected to participate in the mandatory minicamp.
Footballguys view: This is not a surprise. Because he hasn't signed his franchise tender, Higgins is ineligible to report for organized team activities. He cannot rejoin the team until he signs. According to previous reporting, the two sides haven't discussed an extension in over a year. The deadline to reach a long-term agreement is July 15. If a deal isn't done at that point, Higgins will play on the tag. |
Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow was not on the field for Tuesday's practice. But according to head coach Zac Taylor, there's no cause for alarm. Taylor told reporters after the session that Burrow had a scheduled day off as he continues to recover from season-ending wrist surgery. "We've given Joe a day off every week," Taylor said via Paul Dehner Jr. of TheAthletic.com.
Footballguys view: Taylor added that Burrow has not thrown more than two days in a row so far this offseason, and it is designed to keep him from pushing too hard. Burrow is set to practice again on Wednesday. Again, a cautious approach this time of year is the best news for fantasy managers hoping Burrow can remain in the locked and upright position all season long. The No. 1 overall pick of the 2020 draft, Burrow threw for 2,309 yards with 15 touchdowns and six interceptions in 10 games last year before suffering a season-ending wrist injury. |
Cincinnati Bengals WR Tee Higgins has not had negotiations about a potential contract extension for over a year, according to sources Sunday, June 2. Higgins still has not signed his franchise tender.
Footballguys view: Higgins has not signed his tender, but the two sides have until mid-July to get something done. If he doesn't sign his tender by the deadline, then we could see a lengthy holdout. We could also see Higgins dealt to another team. In addition to Higgins, Ja'Marr Chase is looking for a new contract. The Bengals may not be able to keep both with inflated price tags. |
Cincinnati Bengals WR Ja'Marr Chase is eligible for a contract extension but the team appears to be 'in a holding pattern' because both sides are waiting for Minnesota Vikings WR Justin Jefferson to sign his inevitable extension first, according to ESPN.com's Ben Baby.
Footballguys view: Back in April, the Bengals picked up the fifth-year option for Chase. He's signed through the 2025 season, but the team should be working to get him a new contract this summer - perhaps before the start of the regular season. When Jefferson signs his deal, Chase's deal could be finalized soon after that. |
Cincinnati Bengals QB Joe Burrow has been an accurate passer during the offseason workouts and has shown great velocity and power on his throws, according to head coach Zac Taylor.
Footballguys view: Burrow had season-ending wrist surgery, and he's been impressing everyone during his recovery. Reports indicate Burrow is throwing with velocity, and we should see him participate fully in training camp. Whether they limit him in the preseason remains to be seen. |
Cincinnati Bengals WR Tee Higgins is not at voluntary organized team activities Tuesday, May 28.
Footballguys view: Higgins still has not signed his franchise tender and is ineligible to report for organized team activities this week and next (June 3-6). Cincinnati's mandatory minicamp is scheduled for June 11-13. Higgins cannot rejoin the team until he signs. Higgins and the Bengals have not come to terms on a long-term deal. According to ESPN, the two sides haven't discussed an extension in over a year. Of the eight players given the franchise tag this offseason, Higgins is the only one who has not signed a multiyear contract. This situation bears watching. |
Cincinnati Bengals WR Ja'Marr Chase is not at voluntary organized team activities Tuesday, May 28.
Footballguys view: Chase, eligible for a contract extension for the first time, has been working on his own. He's on the books through 2025, with his fifth-year option picked up. The option puts him in line to collect $21.82 million next year. While the Bengals would like to lock the three-time Pro Bowler up to a long-term deal before then -- it will only get more expensive the longer they wait, local observers have suggested an extension for Chase isn't a priority this year. The Bengals will have a mandatory minicamp from June 11-13 to close out their offseason program. We expect Chase to show up to avoid the fines allowed for missing mandatory work, but we'll continue to watch for more. |
Cincinnati Bengals WR Trenton Irwin said he is focused on building chemistry with QB Joe Burrow. 'One of the biggest things is being on the same page as Joe,' Irwin said. 'If you're on the same page as Joe, Joe can do special things and the team can do special things.'
Footballguys view: Irwin caught a career-high 25 passes last year in 10 games with the Bengals. If healthy, Irwin should push for a similar number this year. He's competing with Jermaine Burton and Andrei Iosivas to establish the no.3 and no.4 spots on the depth chart behind Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. |
Cincinnati Bengals WR Andrei Iosivas said he hoping to use this season to prove he is capable of replacing WR Tee Higgins moving forward. 'I'm hoping I can get the confidence from the coaches,' Iosivas said. 'I'm not sure if they can pay Tee. He'll probably get a lot of money. He's a really good receiver. Hopefully I can step into that role.'
Footballguys view: Iosivas showed off his nose for the end zone in 2023 with four receiving touchdowns on only 15 passes caught (in 9 games). His main competition for a larger role is likely rookie WR Jermaine Burton. The Bengals selected the former Alabama WR in the third round of the 2024 NFL draft, and Burton knows how to track deep passes with speed and late hands. We'll see how this competition shakes out in training camp. |
Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher confirmed that QB Joe Burrow (wrist) has not been on a pitch count during practices this spring. 'We designed the whole thing to stay within the constraints of where the medical people think he should be and where he wants to be right now,' Pitcher said. 'Nobody is sitting there with a special pitch counter. But we've been smart how we put it together.'
Footballguys view: Burrow is the key to the Bengals' Super Bowl chances. The team is going to do everything they can to keep Burrow on the right track in his recovery. The process should take up to the start of training camp according to previous reports. |
Updating previous reports, Cincinnati Bengals WR Tee Higgins hasn't signed his franchise tender and is not expected to do so by next week. That would make him ineligible to take part in organized team activities, and he can't return until he signs.
Footballguys view: Again, barring agreement on a long-term deal on or before the July 15 deadline, Higgins will be playing for the $21.8 million guaranteed by the franchise tag. |
Cincinnati Bengals WR Tee Higgins is not expected to participate in the organized team activities that start next week, a source told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.
Footballguys view: Unless the two sides agree to a long-term extension by the July 15 deadline, Higgins will make $21.8 million guaranteed playing on the Bengals franchise tag this season. He previously requested a trade but has since acknowledged that won't happen. That leaves sitting out voluntary sessions as his only leverage in negotiations for that extension. |
Cincinnati Bengals third-round draft choice WR Jermaine Burton (Alabama) and fourth-round draft choice TE Erick All (Iowa) signed four-year contracts on Tuesday, May 14. Financial terms of the deals were not immediately disclosed.
Footballguys view: After transferring from Georgia following the 2021 season, Burton was a high-production receiver at Alabama, leading the Crimson Tide in receiving yards and touchdowns last season. With Tyler Boyd no longer in the mix (he signed with Tennessee as a free agent), Cincinnati has an immediate need for a No. 3 receiver. In addition, Tee Higgins is heading into 2024 on the franchise tag, and his future in Cincinnati is uncertain. Given the circumstances, Burton has considerable long-term upside in this offense. Meanwhile, the big question for All is about the ACL injury he suffered in 2023 in his senior year at Iowa. The Bengals, however, feel good about his recovery as he enters a depth chart behind Mike Gesicki, Tanner Hudson, and Drew Sample. |
Cincinnati Bengals sixth-round draft choice DE Cedric Johnson signed a four-year contract with the Bengals Monday, May 13. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Link to storyCincinnati Bengals third-round draft choice DT McKinnley Jackson (Texas A&M), fifth-round draft choice CB Josh Newton (Texas Christian), sixth-round draft choice TE Tanner McLachlan (Arizona), seventh-round draft choice S Daijahn Anthony (Mississippi) and seventh-round draft choice C Matt Lee (Miami, Fla.) signed four-year contracts on Friday, May 10. Financial terms of the deals were not immediately disclosed.
Footballguys view: McLachlan is the name to remember here. The Bengals took a very talented Iowa tight end - Erick All - in the fourth round, but he has a lengthy and worrisome injury history. If All can't stay healthy, McLachlan could be Joe Burrow's tight end of the future. McLachlan's 4.61 40 and 35" vertical were both among the top five tight ends at the combine. |
Undrafted free-agent QB Rocky Lombardi (Northern Illinois), RB Elijah Collins (Oklahoma State), RB Noah Cain (Louisiana State), WR Cole Burgess (Cortland State), WR Tre Mosley (Michigan State) and TE Cam Grandy (Illinois State) were among the 14 players who officially signed contracts with the Cincinnati Bengals on Friday, May 10. Terms of the deals were not immediately disclosed.
Link to storyCincinnati Bengals WR Ja'Marr Chase and WR Tee Higgins are not participating in the voluntary workouts this offseason.
Footballguys view: The workouts are voluntary, so there's nothing to see here. When the work becomes mandatory during minicamp, Chase and Higgins will be in attendance. |
Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow has been back in action the past two days following his season-ending wrist surgery six months ago, and the franchise quarterback said all has gone well so far. "I feel great," Burrow said, repeating the phrase several times Tuesday in his first media session since participating in the team's offseason workouts. "It's good to be back."
Footballguys view: Taking the field on Monday, Burrow made all the throws. The reports from Bengals receivers were good, too, indicating that the zip has returned to Burrow's passes. And, so far at least, Burrow said he hasn't had any setbacks or complications, even while experiencing some pain -- although the QB declined to expound on that. One interesting measure Burrow has taken this offseason has been adding bulk. He's suffered several injuries over the years, including a few season-ending ailments, so it can't hurt for Burrow -- who, according to NFL.com, looked bigger to the naked eye -- to add muscle mass as a form of self-preservation. "I'm really strong. Bigger than I was," Burrow confirmed. "We're going to continue to eat right, lift and go through my routine and see where I'm at . . ." The fact he's on schedule in his ability to throw the ball is a great starting point for his return. |
Cincinnati Bengals QB Joe Burrow (wrist) has started throwing footballs during offseason workouts as part of his recovery.
Link to storyCincinnati Bengals WR Tee Higgins is believed be looking for around $23 million per season in his next contract, but the two sides have not negotiated for over a year because the Bengals have never approached $20 million per season during negotiations, according to The Cincinnati Enquirer's Kelsey Conway.
Footballguys view: Barring an extension, Higgins will make $21.8 million in 2024 on the one-year, fully guaranteed franchise tag. As PFT suggests, that should be the starting point in negotiations. Eighteen receivers make more than $20 million a season. According to Enquirer staffer Kelsey Conway, Higgins wants something in the range of what the Colts gave receiver Michael Pittman, what the Commanders gave Terry McLaurin, and what the 49ers gave Deebo Samuel. All three are slightly over $23 million a year. Higgins, 25, played 12 games last season, missing four games with a fractured rib and then Week 18 with a hamstring issue. He caught 42 passes for 656 yards and five touchdowns, all career lows. From a fantasy perspective, Higgins has been available as a mid-priced WR3, with a WR28 to 31 Average Draft Position, depending on your platform. |
Undrafted free-agent WR Cole Burgess (Cortland State), TE Cam Grandy (Illinois State), and RB Noah Cain (LSU) agreed to undisclosed contracts with the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, April 28.
Link to storyCincinnati Bengals DB Daxton Hill will be moved from safety to cornerback, according to head coach Zac Taylor.
Link to storyUndrafted free-agent RB Elijah Collins (Oklahoma State) agreed to terms on a contract with the Cincinnati Bengals Sunday, April 28, according to his agent, Brad Armstrong. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Link to storyUndrafted free-agent QB Rocky Lombardi (Northern Illinois) agreed to terms with the Cincinnati Bengals on Saturday, April 27, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. Contractual terms were not disclosed.
Link to storyCincinnati Bengals TE Erick All (knee) is recovering from a torn anterior cruciate ligament, but the team is confident about his progress.
Link to storyAlabama WR Jermaine Burton was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals with the 80th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Link to storyMichigan DT Kris Jenkins was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals with the 49th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Link to storyGeorgia OT Amarius Mims was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals with the 18th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Link to storyAlabama OT JC Latham is a player the Cincinnati Bengals 'like a lot' and could be willing to trade up for in the 2024 NFL Draft, according to Dan Graziano of ESPN.com.
Link to storyCincinnati Bengals WR Ja'Marr Chase had his fifth-year option picked up on Wednesday, April 24.
Link to storyFree-agent QB Logan Woodside (Falcons) signed a one-year deal with the Cincinnati Bengals on Tuesday, April 23. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Link to storyCincinnati Bengals exclusive-rights free-agent QB Jake Browning signed a two-year extension Tuesday, April 23. Financial terms weren't disclosed.
Footballguys view: Browning had never played an NFL game before last season and spent the majority of his career on the practice squad. He was a revelation replacing an injured Joe Burrow, throwing for 1,936 yards, 12 touchdowns, and seven interceptions while completing 70.4 percent of his passes. Browning also rushed for 127 yards and another three touchdowns. |
Cincinnati Bengals DE Sam Hubbard (ankle) underwent a serious ankle surgery after the 2023 season but said there was no cartilage damage in the ankle and the injury was repaired.
Link to storyFree-agent LB Jordan Evans (Bengals) announced his retirement from the NFL on Sunday, April 21.
Link to storyCincinnati Bengals RB Chase Brown said he is preparing for a bigger offensive role next season since the team traded RB Joe Mixon to the Houston Texans.
Link to storyWashington WR Jalen McMillan is having an official meeting with the Cincinnati Bengals Wednesday, April 17.
Link to storyDominican Republic basketball player Bayron Matos, who participated in the NFL's International Player Pathway program this year and is viewed as an offensive line prospect, is visiting with the Cincinnati Bengals on Tuesday, April 16.
Link to storyFree-agent LB Joe Bachie (Bengals) and LS Cal Adomitis (Bengals) re-signed with the Cincinnati Bengals on undisclosed deals, the team announced Monday, April 15.
Link to storyCincinnati Bengals WR Tee Higgins said he anticipates playing for the Bengals during the 2024 season, he told reporters Sunday, April 14. Higgins was franchise-tagged this offseason.
Link to storyCincinnati Bengals franchise free-agent WR Tee Higgins has not had any contract extension talks with the Bengals this offseason, a source told ESPN.com's Matt Miller.
Link to storyTexas DT T'Vondre Sweat and Georgia OT Amarius Mims appear to have made official visits with the Cincinnati Bengals leading up to the 2024 NFL Draft.
Link to story