Bengals take new approach on Tee Higgins at scouting combine this year

Cincinnati Bengals director of player personnel Duke Tobin made some pretty revealing comments about Tee Higgins on Tuesday at the scouting combine.

One year removed from the infamous “go find your own” comments in regards to a Higgins trade, Tobin took a totally different track this time out when talking about the team’s franchise-tagged player.

Asked about the overall situation, Tobin dropped the following: “The reason we franchised him is because we would like to have him.”

That said, Tobin was also asked about a possible tag-and-trade scenario and effectively said since Higgins isn’t under contract, it’s impossible to predict what might happen.

This doesn’t mean the Bengals are explicitly open for business on Higgins. But the timing of that tag — making it official well before they needed to and just before brushing shoulders with 31 other teams at the combine — sure said a lot.

So, too, does Tobin’s different vibe this time out. While it’s likely that Higgins plays out the franchise tag in 2024 just like Jessie Bates did, the right monster offer might just be able to get the Bengals to move.

LIVE: Director of Player Personnel Duke Tobin speaks to the media at the #NFLCombine

https://t.co/bzFUg5R2so

— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) February 27, 2024