If I were a Bengals fan I would be very nervous…

Cincinnati Bengals director of player personnel Duke Tobin refuted rumors last year that the team would trade their superstar wide receiver. tee higgins — Rumors that started swirling during the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine.

At the time, Tobin was not speaking and shut down the idea that the Bengals could trade Higgins to another NFL franchise.

“If they want a receiver, find one yourself,” Tobin reportedly said. sports illustrated.

Fast forward to 2024, and Cincinnati seems to have realized they may finally lose Higgins and have to look for a replacement, and Tobin sounds like a very different person.

“Tee Higgins signed with us last year,” Tobin said at this week's Senior Bowl, according to the paper. cincinnati enquirer. (Related: True American: Miami Dolphins' Tua Tagovailoa presents Purple Heart recipient with trip to Super Bowl LVIII)

“He was a player we drafted to be a contributor for us. He's not under contract right now so we'll have to look at how we can make that happen and if that's possible. , they're going to have to practice. So it's going to be a different scenario than last year. Trading a high-level player under contract just because you might need it in the future is a no-brainer for me. It’s never crossed my mind.”

The Bengals will have limited options on what to do with Higgins this offseason. They really only have three things with him: 1. They can give Higgins a long-term contract extension, 2. Put the franchise tag on him ($22 million) at wide receiver, or 3. Let him become a free agent.

that's it.

“We’ll see what happens this year,” Tobin said. “We want Tee Higgins back. All of our team wants Tee Higgins back. Again, there's only one pie, how big a slice do you want and how big is it? You have to determine what else can’t be done because of the cause, and you’ll figure it out.”

Which team will Tee Higgins play for next season? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/c4XsrOdhFC

— FanDuel (@FanDuel) February 1, 2024

Will Tee Higgins leave Cincy? …I think, in the words of Duke Tobin, “you’ll see.”