
The Bengals, with about $46 million in salary cap space this offseason, will have a range of options in handling Higgins' contract situation over the next few months. The team would use the tag on Higgins and guarantee him $26 million for the 2025 season -- likely less than he would get on the open market. The Bengals could also tag Higgins, then trade him, receiving draft compensation in exchange for the dominant boundary wideout. It seems unlikely Higgins will remain in Cincinnati with the Bengals working on a record-breaking long-term deal for Ja'Marr Chase, though Joe Burrow has said he would rework his contract to help retain Higgins.
Chase was enjoying every second of Sunday night
Fowler elaborates that sources he's spoken to agree Garrett should be worth at least two quality draft picks including at least one first-round pick in any potential trade. The 29-year-old game-wrecker released a statement earlier this week that his motivation for a trade is to contend for a title, not secure a new contract. At the same time, the market for pass rushers figures to be quite lucrative, which would likely help him secure a new deal as part of any negotiation. Fowler adds that Micah Parsons is poised to eclipse Nick Bosa's $34 million per-year on his upcoming extension while T.J. Watt, Trey Hendrickson, Danielle Hunter and Maxx Crosby are all set to hit free agency in the coming years. Fowler says the expectation is that Hendrickson and Crosby will garner strong trade interest if their teams decide to entertain offers. The Raiders seem set to rebuild with Tom Brady running the show now and the Bengals are in a precarious financial situation with none of Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins or Hendrickson locked up long-term yet. There could be a race to get some of these extensions done as the contracts will only get more expensive for teams that wait.
Fowler says that people he's talked to agree that Garrett should be worth at least two quality draft picks including at least one first-round pick in a potential trade. With two years left on his contract, Garrett is seeking to move to a contender rather than be motivated by money. At the same time, the market for pass rushers is set to take off. Fowler says Micah Parsons is poised to eclipse Nick Bosa's $34 million per year on his upcoming extension. T.J. Watt, Trey Hendrickson, Danielle Hunter and Maxx Crosby are all set to hit free agency in the coming years. Fowler says the expectation is that Hendrickson and Crosby will garner strong trade interest if their teams decide to entertain offers. The Raiders seem set to rebuild with Tom Brady running the show now and the Bengals are in a precarious financial situation with none of Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins or Hendrickson locked up long-term yet. There could be a race to get some of these extensions done as the contracts will only get more expensive for teams that wait.
In a very weird anomaly, Tom Brady and Tedy Bruschi both went with Chase fourth