WXIX: Indianapolis, Ind. During their press conference at the NFL Combine on Tuesday, Cincinnati Bengals coach Zac Taylor and player personnel director Duke Tobin gushed about the team’s receiver Tee Higgins whenever the question was posed.
The Bengals are so interested in him that they have awarded him the franchise tag, which will pay him $21.8 million in 2024 in the event that a long-term deal cannot be reached.
However, Taylor listed the reasons why the Bengals desire the receiver in the long run.
The way he approaches his profession and his identity. The whole building appreciates him for the kind of person he is’, Taylor remarked. “He’s the kind of receiver ranked number two.” Large frame, excellent self-control, and quickness down the pitch. We don’t want him leaving the team because he is one of the best receivers in this league. And he will play here for at least another season.
Two years were given to the team to negotiate with Higgins. The Bengals signed wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase to a massive contract last offseason, and quarterback Joe Burrow to the highest quarterback contract in NFL history. However, Higgins’s admirers, Taylor and Tobin, claim they want to keep him on the team in the long run, much like they do Chase.
It’s difficult, Tobin remarked. “On your squad, you can only have so many expensive guys. We make an effort to follow the guidelines that are provided. The CBA is the CBA, and it is our responsibility to assemble the greatest squad each and every year while overcoming the associated obstacles.
Safety Jesse Bates, a Pro Bowl player, was the last player the Bengals tagged in 2022. He moved to Atlanta in his free agency. Higgins is wanted to stay, according to the Bengals. Additionally, the team will not, at least not at this time, move him while he is tagged. In Bengals history, this would be the team’s first tag and trade if they succeeded.
“I’ve never engaged in a tag and trade, so I’m not sure,” Tobin remarked. Once more, we tagged him with the intention of having him assist us. He’s a talented player, and since we value talented players, we labelled him. He should be on the roster.
Joe Mixon, a running back, is eligible for a roster bonus this year. At 27, he is very close to reaching the dreaded 30th birthday mark for running backs. He has also been with the team for seven years. According to Tobin, the organisation will keep modifying how it handled its running backs and will take Mixon’s roster bonus into account when making cap decisions.
With Joe Burrow down in November, Cincinnati’s running game and running back, even with Mixon sharing more totes with speedster Chase Brown, took centre stage in the offence.
Tobin remarked, “He had a great season for us.” accumulated more than 1,000 yards and ten touchdowns. Regarding his future role, such are techniques for roster construction, and every player should take that into consideration going ahead. He put us in a position to have a shot at the end of the year by doing a number of things to assist us in getting there.
Taylor not handing over playcalling duties
Since being hired by the Bengals in 2019, Taylor has called the offensive plays. With former offensive coordinator Brian Callahan assuming the helm as Tennessee’s head coach, he won’t be giving it up.
Dan Pitcher, the quarterbacks coach, was elevated to the position of offensive coordinator after Callahan left.
Taylor remarked, “I like the process we have going now.” It will not be the same. Pitcher Dan has long been prepared for this. He declined numerous invitations to stay with us. Because Brian was able to secure the first position available before Dan could board an aircraft, the timing was ideal.
