Tee Higgins says he hopes to be a Bengal ‘for a while’

Chicago Bears fans want GM Ryan Poles to make another splashy move at wide receiver. This year’s free agent market won’t offer that opportunity, and the 2023 NFL Draft isn’t overflowing with WR1 talent in the first round. That leaves the trade market as the best chance for the Bears to land a new pass-catcher, and Cincinnati Bengals star Tee Higgins is at the top of that wishlist.

But if it’s up to Higgins, he’ll be a Bengal for a long time.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport tweeted Thursday that Higgins said he plans on being in Cincinnati “for a while.”

On @NFLNetwork, #Bengals WR Tee Higgins answers a question about being photoshopped into every uniform. How long will the team stay together?

“Hopefully for a long time, I plan on being in Cincinnati for a while.”

Higgins is heading into the final year of his rookie contract.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 9, 2023

Check out my take on a potential Tee Higgins trade this offseason here (don’t forget to subscribe to our Bears Talk YouTube channel):

Tee Higgins isn’t the only WR the Chicago Bears can target in a trade

Higgins isn’t the only wide receiver entering his fourth season who warrants a new contract. The San Francisco 49ers will face a similar situation with Brandon Aiyuk, who, like Tee Higgins, is playing in the shadow of one of the NFL’s elite playmakers.

The 49ers, unlike the Bengals, have the fifth-year option at their disposal with Aiyuk, making a trade less urgent this offseason. San Francisco has an extra year of control compared to Cincinnati, who faces the prospect of Tee Higgins becoming an unrestricted free agent next year this time.

Through three years in the league, Higgins has 215 catches for 3,028 yards and 19 touchdowns. He’s posted back-to-back 74-catch seasons over the last two years.

A trade for Tee Higgins could cost the Chicago Bears a first-round pick in a future draft year. They won’t trade this year’s first-rounder, and it’s unlikely the Bengals would accept a second-round pick for their wideout. The Tennessee Titans received the 18th overall selection and a fourth-round pick in the 2022 draft for A.J. Brown. It was a compensation package that likely set the parameters for any trade discussion about Higgins.

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