bitYes, the final showdown for the Lombardi Trophy is just around the corner. But other teams in the NFL have already started the tug-of-war to sign and re-sign players. Honestly, it’s one of the most fragile times of the year because some teams lose their gems while others get the chance to keep or gain them. A player who’s recently come into the spotlight is none other than Bengals WR Tee Higgins. Did you see Tee’s performance in the Week 17 game against Denver? He went berserk, racking up 11 receptions for 131 yards. Sheesh, and to garnish his amazing performance, he pocketed 3 TDs as well. If we were the owners of any team, we’d be waiting with a bag full of Benjamins to snatch this WR away from the Bengals.

The buzz has already reached the set of The Pat McAfee Show. In a recent episode, Pat got the chance to catch legendary coach Bill Belichick‘s aide for an interview. Yeah, we’re talking about Michael Lombardi. “Do you think he’s going to be able to become a true number one somewhere if it’s not in Cincinnati?” Pat asked. “I think he is certainly a dynamic player.” Michael replied. He also added, “They did a good job in Cincinnati this year, motioning him, keeping him away from double teams. But I think he’s really talented. And I think he can go somewhere and be a really good player.”

Hey, these are the words coming from a guy who’s got three Super Bowls under his name. Someone Bill Belichick trusts enough to hire as his right-hand man in North Carolina. Lombardi further shared his views about how other teams will be dying to have Higgins onboard. “You put Tee Higgins on a team like the 49ers, my lord, he could end up shining because they’ve got other players around him.” Then he went on to make a pretty interesting point, “Duke’s not going to be able to pay what other teams are going to pay. Because people are going to overpay for Tee Higgins in the sense that they need him.”

Even Joe Burrow has made his emotions clear many times about his willingness to play alongside his brother for another season. The Bengals’ franchise QB knows the value Tee Higgins brings to the team and isn’t shy about voicing his thoughts. Recently, he addressed the Bengals’ ownership regarding Higgins’ contract. “Tee is a great player and a guy that does everything the right way and works really hard for it. When you have a guy like that, you just cannot let him get out of the building.” Burrow said. With Burrow advocating for Higgins to stay, the pressure is now on the Bengals’ front office to make a decision—before other teams swoop in like The Godfather and make him an offer he can’t refuse.

What Does Lombardi Think Would Be a Good Fit for Tee Higgins?

When teams come knocking on Tee Higgins’ door with sweet deals, will the Bengals be able to retain him while also keeping other key players? Michael Lombardi knows that tax implications in a contract play a huge role and can be one of the ultimate deciding factors for a player’s destination. “Houston could get close because of the tax implications. Don’t ever think that that’s not a big factor in these deals, because it is. The Patriots are going to have to pay way more than that,” Lombardi explained.

Now, a huge dilemma is looming for the Bengals. Keeping Ja’Marr Chase is their top priority. But the challenge lies in whether they can manage that while also re-signing Tee Higgins. Bengals’ director of player personnel, Duke 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.”

What does the future hold for Tee Higgins? Is he willing to give up a bit of potential pay to continue his partnership with Burrow at the Bengals? Or will he find himself some new pastures?