Cincinnati Bengals: Using Franchise Tag on Tee Higgins Would Buy Time in Negotiations
The Bengals are prepared to use the franchise tag on Tee Higgins for a second straight year, James Rapien of SI.com reported.
The NFL franchise tag window opened Tuesday and runs until March 4, and placing the tag on Higgins again would give the Bengals until July 15 to work out an extension. If no agreement is reached by then, Higgins would play under the tag for a second straight season – this time on a one-year $26.2 million contract.
Franchise quarterback Joe Burrow said he would restructure his contract to give the Bengals more flexibility to re-sign both Higgins and All-Pro wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase. Using the franchise tag on Higgins is the first domino expected to fall in the Bengals' efforts to sign Higgins, Chase, and edge rusher Trey Hendrickson to new deals.
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Cincinnati is one of the few teams that could use the franchise tag this offseason.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Trevor Lawrence Squashes Pittsburgh Trade Rumors
The Steelers have questions to answer at quarterback, but Trevor Lawrence says he won't be the answer.
Lawrence dismissed rumors that the Steelers had called the Jacksonville Jaguars to see if their starting quarterback was available. On the "Up and Adams" show, Lawrence told host Kay Adams that the rumors were unfounded.
"I have a no-trade clause in my contract," Lawrence said. "I would know about it if I was getting traded or if that was something that was going to happen. I'd have to be on board with it, which I'm not. I'm happy here in Jacksonville. We want to win a Super Bowl here and I think we can. I don't want to leave Jacksonville. Not going to Pittsburgh."
Lawrence said he wasn't worried, but that he received a reassuring text from new Jaguars Head Coach Liam Coen.
"We're all good," Lawrence said. "He didn't even have to send it. There was no doubt on my side."
Cleveland Browns: Would Cam Ward Be Good Fit at No. 2?
The Browns have the No. 2 pick in the draft and a need at quarterback. But would they consider drafting either Shedeur Sanders or Cam Ward, considered the top two quarterback prospects?
Several draft experts like Field Yates of ESPN expect the Browns to select Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter, but others like Brent Sobleski of Bleacher Report believe Ward would be a great fit with the Browns.
Ward said Monday night that any team that bypasses him in the draft will regret it.
"Okay, you're either going to draft me or you're not," Ward said via The Associated Press on Monday night before receiving the Davey O'Brien Award as the nation's top college quarterback. "If you don't draft me, that's your fault. You've got to remember you're the same team that's got to play me for the rest of my career, and I'll remember that."
