The Cincinnati Bengals have some future moves to mull over. Will one of the team’s best receivers depart in a trade?
Cincinnati Bengals News Today
Zac Taylor Not Concerned About WR Tee Higgins’ Trade Request
Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins requested a trade earlier in the offseason, but don’t expect the team to act on it. Head coach Zac Taylor may see a similar situation to the one that played out last year with Jonah Williams, who also requested a trade, following the signing of Orlando Brown Jr.
Pro Football Network’s Jay Morrison reported from the AFC coaches’ breakfast in Orlando.
“We’re excited for Tee to have a great year for us,” Taylor said on Monday morning.
“We think he’s our best chance to help us win a Super Bowl,” Taylor continued. “I’ve enjoyed working with Tee the last four years and expect this year to be no different.”
Higgins is coming off a year where he missed five games but still had 42 catches for 656 yards and five touchdowns. If he does return, the expectation is that he’ll be more involved in the offense as Tyler Boyd remains a free agent and Joe Burrow returns from injury. Ja’Marr Chase was the team’s leading receiver with 100 receptions for 1,216 yards and seven touchdowns.
MORE: Taylor Expects Higgins To Play in 2024
Alabama OT JC Latham to Cincinnati Bengals in Daniel Jeremiah’s Latest Mock Draft
The Bengals already signed Trent Brown to man the right tackle position this offseason and have Brown Jr. suiting up at left tackle.
It still may not be out of the question that the team opts to beef up the position even more in the 2024 NFL Draft.
NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah released his mock draft 3.0 on March 19 and he has Cincinnati taking Alabama tackle JC Latham.
“Addressing offensive tackle is a must for the Bengals, even with Trent Brown signing a one-year deal with the team,” Jeremiah wrote. “In a draft that is stacked at the position, they should be able to stay patient and have a talented player fall to them.”
RELATED: Adam Caplan’s Latest Mock Draft
Joe Burrow Could Return for Cincinnati Bengals OTAs
There’s positive news on the Burrow injury front. The quarterback suffered a wrist injury below his throwing hand on Nov. 16 against the Ravens, leading to him missing the remainder of the regular season. Morrison reports that Burrow could be back for OTAs to throw.
“On the injury front, I always try to stay back as far as I can,” Taylor said. “But everything’s positive, everything’s encouraging. He’s tracking well for the offseason program. We’ll continue to give him his space in his rehab work, but everything has been going exactly how we hoped it would go.”
Burrow had a right calf strain while he rolled out in practice on July 27, 2023. It led to him re-aggravating the injury against Baltimore in Week 2. He went on to have a sluggish performance against the Tennessee Titans in a 27-3 loss.
Burrow regained his form as time went on, but missed the final seven games of the year with a ligament injury to his wrist.
KEEP READING: Joe Burrow Injury Update
DeAndre Hopkins Is Ecstatic About Brian Callahan
DeAndre Hopkins is set to be part of an offense with a new play-caller. Former Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan made his way to the Tennessee Titans this offseason, and Hopkins is looking forward to the change.
“I am very excited to get going under Brian’s offense, and his schemes,” Hopkins told reporters at the NFL Owners Meetings, per the Titans’ official website.
“Obviously, I’ve talked to Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins and those guys told me that I would love this offense, and I think the sky is the limit, especially with a guy like Calvin (Ridley). I am very excited for this offense.”
CONTINUE READING: NFL World Reacts to L’Jarius Sneed Trade
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