Most Cincinnati Bengals trade projections that include Tee Higgins fall flat because the team just won't do it. Those Bengals value their own far too much and when in an actual standoff, well, fans re

While the Cincinnati Bengals may very well exercise the franchise tag on star wide receiver Tee Higgins for the second offseason in a row, a trade to the New England Patriots is not out of the realm of possibility either.

The most prominent example right now is ESPN’s Aaron Schatz, whose set of bold offseason projections has the Buffalo Bills blowing the Bengals “out of the water” with a Higgins trade offer:

The Cincinnati Bengals have floated the idea of franchise tagging Tee Higgins. While that may seem like a stop-gap to appease Joe Burrow, it could be out of selfishness for the Bengals front office. Burrow has been clear about what he wants the front office to do when it comes to retaining both Ja’Marr Chase and Higgins.

All indications are the Bengals and Higgins want to avoid a tag. But that second tag number would check in below the likely $30 million or more in average annual salary he could earn on the open market from another team.