Tee Higgins trade unlikely to be Bears answer to No. 1 WR issue

The NFL championship games on Sunday, the AFC and NFC, served as a timely reminder of all required to reach the pinnacle of success. a warning of all the things Bears general manager Ryan Poles has to look for as his rebuilding efforts get under way.You can highlight the Eagles' offensive line's strength or their defensive front's tenacity. You might examine the 49ers' fierce and unyielding defence or their plethora of offensive tools, which provide lethal adaptability and variety.The trenches on both sides of the ball must be fixed by the Bears. This offseason, achieving that must be the top objective. However, it was impossible to watch Sunday's game without observing that three of the four teams competing for a Super Bowl spot featured a strong concentration of exceptional pass receivers.The trenches on both sides of the ball must be fixed by the Bears. This offseason, achieving that must be the top objective. However, it was impossible to watch Sunday's game without observing that three of the four teams competing for a Super Bowl spot featured a strong concentration of exceptional pass receivers. The fourth team, the Kansas City Chiefs, has the finest quarterback in league history as well as one of the best tight ends. This offseason, the Bears ought to be looking to add at least one top-tier pass-catcher. They actually require at least two additional individuals who can triumph in one-on-one confrontations and ease Justin Fields' workload.Tee Higgins, a wide receiver with the Cincinnati Bengals, has been mentioned on Bears Twitter for a few months. The fantasy is that Higgins, who has a deal with the Bengals until 2024, will request a trade from Joe Burrow and the club that has advanced to back-to-back AFC championship games, and the Bengals, in a fit of insanity, will send Higgins to the Bears. It's a very amazing dream. Higgins is a top-tier jump-ball receiver who would assist Darnell Mooney get more playing time and lower Chase Claypool's bar. But I just unable to see a scenario in which the Bengals send one of their three key players to Chicago and blow their chance at the Super Bowl.

Let's go over the specifics

Higgins' current contract runs through the next campaign. He and Burrow will likely receive extensions from the Bengals this summer, in my opinion. On his rookie deal, Ja'Marr Chase still has two more seasons and a fifth-year option.Burrow's rookie contract still includes one season and a fifth-year option, so the typically thrifty Bengals are really in a good position to keep all three in Cincinnati without obliterating their cap for a number of years.It's reasonable to assume that Burrow and the Bengals will complete their massive deal this offseason. The big stats for Burrow won't start coming in until the Bills play the Chiefs, like they did with Josh Allen and the Chiefs did with Patrick Mahomes, respectively.Season 2025. If handled similarly, Chase's large money won't start rolling in until the 2026 election.

As a result, the Bengals should be able to extend Higgins' contract and have a sizable portion of that money guaranteed at the time of the signing, lowering the initial salary charge. Deebo Samuel inked a three-year, $58 million agreement with the 49ers in the offseason that included a $24 million signing bonus. With a $1 million basic salary and the signing bonus, Samuel's cap hit for 2023—the first year of the extension—was only $8.6 million.The Bengals should be able to spread things out sufficiently to keep all three in the fold and refresh the squad around them as Higgins, Burrow, and Chase will each have their extensions kick in one year apart from one another. The Bengals now have a little amount of cash on hand as well.

Therefore, players like safety Jessie Bates, running back Joe Mixon, wide receiver Tyler Boyd, and edge rusher Trey Hendrickson are likely to be the focus of the anticipated difficult financial considerations. The Bengals' future should be inked with Burrow, Chase, and Higgins.Higgins was questioned about his future in Cincinnati following the Bengals' defeat to the Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game on Sunday.Higgins told reporters, "I'd love to play alongside Joe (Burrow) for a while. He is both a superb quarterback and a nice person. Although we have become pretty close friends, you are aware of how the league operates. We'll see, but I still have one more year remaining on my contract.

Although saying "we'll see" would appear to be enough to keep the dream alive, Higgins is simply standing where he is and aware that anything is possible.He would need to want the change, though. He would have to want to leave Burrow, Chase, and a team that, in Burrow's opinion, is poised to compete for Super Bowls for the next 15 years. The Bengals would also need to agree to part with a crucial component of their success in exchange for a draught selection and the confidence that they can locate a replacement for Tee Higgins.

The Bengals could simply follow the 49ers' lead with Samuel last offseason if Higgins wanted out, which there is no indication he does. The 49ers refused Samuel's desire for a trade, glared at him while aware of their contract leverage, and eventually reached an agreement. It is even less probable that a request will be made given that Higgins has a strong relationship and friendship with Burrow and that the Bengals are currently a regular Super Bowl contender.The Bengals have a reputation for being economical, but they have also historically been a team that wants to maintain its local talent. There is no reason to think Higgins will play somewhere other than Cincinnati for the foreseeable future as long as the Bengals are prepared to pay him.