Bengals Legend’s Strong Tee Higgins Message for Fans As Front Office Puts Condition on WR’s Return

What happens when loyalty collides with cold, hard cash? Imagine Cincinnati’s offseason as a high-stakes poker game where hometown love squares off against generational wealth. Enter Chad Johnson—Bengals icon, end zone celeb, and king of unfiltered takes—who just lobbed a truth grenade into the Paycor Stadium. Johnson’s mic-drop take? Let’s just say it involves a reminder that NFL careers burn brighter than a halftime fireworks show. The drama’s juicier than a Skyline Chili cheese coney… and the stakes? Let’s just say someone’s about to fold or go all-in.

Johnson slammed the idea of Tee Higgins taking a discount to stay with the Bengals. “I think it is selfish of myself, and as fans, to tell Tee [Higgins] ‘Well, why don’t you take less to stay here with us?’,” Johnson said. “You don’t give a hometown discount. Not on your first deal.” The Hall of Fame receiver didn’t hold back, urging fans to understand Higgins’ need to “get what he deserves.” Meanwhile, the Bengals’ front office has quietly set a financial boundary for Higgins’s return, sparking a high-stakes game of chicken.

Johnson doubled down, calling Higgins a true No. 1 receiver who deserves to be paid like one. “He’s not a two. He’s a number one. Therefore, I feel he deserves to be paid as such. In order to be paid as such, it can’t be with my beloved Bengals… You have one shot. It’s a big deal.” For a player who has been one of Joe Burrow‘s most reliable targets, the message is clear—Higgins has earned a massive contract, and he shouldn’t shortchange himself for sentimentality.

Higgins, 26, wrapped 2024 on the franchise tag after a rocky negotiation cycle. Despite injuries limiting him to 656 yards last season, his resume sparkles: three straight 900-yard campaigns and 10 touchdowns in 2024. Paired with Ja’Marr Chase, Higgins forms half of a nightmare duo for defenses. But Chase’s looming mega-extension—projected to top $35 million annually—complicates things. And Johnson’s rant hits harder when you peek at the market.

Free agent WRs like Stefon Diggs and Keenan Allen will demand top dollar. But Higgins’ youth and upside could make him the crown jewel. “You’re in that small window,” Johnson said. “As much as I would love you to be there. I want him to get what he deserves, man.” If Higgins claims $30 million per year, Cincinnati’s (alleged) thrifty front office might tap out.

The Bengals’ draft plans already reflect the uncertainty. Analyst Bucky Brooks mocked Michigan TE Colston Loveland to Cincinnati at No. 17, citing Higgins’ potential exit. A tight end wouldn’t replace Higgins’s production, but it’d give Joe Burrow a new weapon and fill a hole if Mike Gesicki departs. Still, fans craving defensive help might groan at the pick. Can a rookie tight end soften the blow of losing a WR1?

The negotiation tightrope: Bengals’ balancing act with Higgins

Bengals’ director Duke Tobin admitted keeping both receivers will be hard. “It’s going to be hard,” Tobin said. “We feel like we have the resources to do it, but it all depends on how the negotiation goes and whether they’re willing to accept wanting to come back at a number that makes sense for everybody.” Hence, Higgins’ price tag might be too steep.

Tobin’s latest comments reveal the tightrope walk ahead. “I’ve always been very upfront in my desire to have Tee Higgins on our team,” he told the Cincinnati Enquirer. “But we have to be able to come together with his representation on what that means and what the right number is for his experience, for his play time, for his production.” This means Higgins’ camp must budge.

Last year’s lowball offer—reportedly under $20 million annually—didn’t cut it, and talks stalled. The Bengals face a March 12 deadline to tag, extend, or let him walk with Higgins switching agents and free agency looming. Meanwhile, former NFL exec. Michael Lombardi predicts a bidding war.

“I think Tee Higgins can be a number one, and he’s a dynamic player,” he said. “Duke Tobin isn’t gonna be able to pay him what other teams are willing to pay.” Lombardi even floated a nightmare scenario: Higgins joining the 49ers. Imagine Kyle Shanahan scheming for Higgins, Deebo Samuel, and Brandon Aiyuk. For Bengals fans, that’s horror-movie material.

Joe Burrow has publicly pushed to keep Higgins, calling it a “need.” But his $275 million deal and Chase’s pending extension squeeze the cap. Cincinnati projects to have $46 million in space, but spreading that across a shaky defense and offensive gaps won’t be easy. If Higgins walks, the Bengals risk alienating their franchise QB—and wasting the prime years of his career.

Chad Johnson’s message is clear: Pay the man or let him thrive elsewhere. But in Cincinnati, money talks louder than nostalgia. However this ends, Tee Higgins’s next contract will send shockwaves through the NFL.