Cincinnati Bengals: Tee Higgins Headed for Free Agent Market in 2025
Tee Higgins must wait until next year for a long-term deal.
The Bengals wide receiver signed the franchise tag on June 17 but didn't reach agreement on a long-term deal by Monday's deadline.
That means Higgins will play under the tag in 2024 and make roughly $21.8 million before being eligible for free agency next year. Higgins missed five games in 2023 and had career low numbers of 42 catches for 656 yards and five touchdowns.
However, those stats were impacted by Higgins missing time and the season-ending injury to quarterback Joe Burrow. The 25-year-old Higgins produced back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in 2021 and '22 and has been a huge part of Cincinnati's offense. Both Higgins and wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase are seeking long-term contract extensions, and it remains to be seen if the Bengals can sign both wideouts to new deals.
The Bengals were the only team in the AFC North to miss the playoffs in 2023 and are hungry for a bounce back year. Higgins plans to report to training camp and Head Coach Zac Taylor said this spring that he expects big things from the wide receiver.
"We're excited for Tee to have a big year for us," Taylor said via Kelsey Conway of the Cincinnati Enquirer. "We think he's our best chance to help us win a Super Bowl. I've enjoyed working with Tee the last four years, I expect this year to be no different."
Cleveland Browns: Will Amari Cooper Hold Out of Training Camp
Seeking a new contract, Amari Cooper skipped mandatory and voluntary minicamps and it remains to be seen if he will report to Browns training camp. The 30-year-old wide receiver is coming off back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons and is entering the final year of a five-year, $100 million deal.
At mandatory minicamp, General Manager Andrew Berry wouldn't discuss specifics regarding contract negotiations. However, Berry acknowledged that Cooper is a major part of Cleveland's offense and that getting his situation resolved is a priority.
"Sometimes all teams will have periods where they go through this type of situation, but it does not change our affinity for Amari," Berry said via NFL.com. "We'll navigate the business considerations, the business aspects, as it goes, but he is a big part of our team, and just as important, he's a big part of our culture."
Pittsburgh Steelers: Cam Heyward 'Hates' Steelers Being on 'Hard Knocks'
The AFC North will be featured in a 2024 late season version of '"Hard Knocks,"' HBO and NFL Films announced last month.
Steelers defensive tackle Cam Heyward isn't thrilled about the idea of cameras giving outsiders access to locker room conversations.
"I hated it. I don't want to be on this," Heyward said on the "Not Just Football Podcast" via PennLive.com.
The Steelers play all six of their games against AFC North opponents after Week 8, including four straight against the Ravens (Week 11), at Browns (Week 12), at Bengals (Week 13) and vs. Browns (Week 14).
The second half of the schedule will make or break Pittsburgh's season, and Hayward would prefer "Hard Knocks" not to have a front row seat.
"The locker room is the locker room, and I just don't want that getting messed up," Heyward said. "You would assume everybody's a jerk if you heard everything. But it comes from a loving place, and it comes from a caring place. We all want to be better, and we joke a lot. We poke and prod at each other, but it doesn't always come off that way. That's the only thing I really worry about."
