Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow has expressed his desire for wide receiver Tee Higgins and defensive end Trey Hendrickson to remain with the Bengals next season. Both players have requested trades in recent months, but Burrow hopes they will stay put.
"We are here to win football games," Burrow said. "I really hope both those guys are here next year because we are a better football team with both of them. They are both great locker room guys, too. They are going to do what they've got to do, but when the time comes for them to come back, if that time comes, we are going to welcome them back and hit our stride."
Burrow acknowledged the importance of Higgins to the team's success, especially considering his career-high yards per reception in 2024 and the impact his presence has on the team's young receiving corps. He also highlighted the challenge of last season, where both he and Higgins faced injuries, ultimately resulting in the Bengals missing the playoffs.
Despite the challenges, Burrow remains optimistic about the Bengals' potential with a healthy Higgins and the rest of their talented receiving group, led by superstar wideout Ja'Marr Chase. He believes their combined talent can contribute to a strong passing attack, similar to the one that led the Bengals to the 2021 Super Bowl and a seventh-place finish in passing yards the following season.
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But the Bengals' receiving corps is on the brink of disintegration, with Tyler Boyd signing terms with the Tennessee Titans and Higgins asking for a trade on March 11 after failing to agree a long-term extension with the team. Despite Cincinnati's stance against trading him this off-season, Higgins expressed in April his expectation to play for the Bengals in the upcoming season.
NFL insider Adam Schefter has reported that Higgins has a deep affection for Cincinnati and had hoped to remain with the team for the foreseeable future, but feels let down by the slow progress of contract negotiations.
In April, Higgins' agent David Mulugheta made it clear: "Our No. 1 goal is to get a long-term commitment from them. If we can't, then we're asking for a trade. And hopefully, if he gets traded, that's what we do - get a long-term commitment with somewhere else."
Hendrickson has been a key part of Cincinnati's success in recent years (Getty Images)Hendrickson, meanwhile, notched his third consecutive Pro Bowl nod, an accolade he's earned each season since joining Cincinnati, capping off a stellar year with personal bests in tackles, sacks, and forced fumbles.
Yet, in a surprising move on April 24, the defensive end submitted a trade request to the team, seeking a long-term deal following a one-year extension last offseason. Hendrickson is also contemplating retirement should he fail to reach an agreement with the Bengals.
Regarded as the ninth-best pass rusher in the NFL, with an impressive 90.2 PFF grade, Bengals' head coach Zac Taylor confessed his intentions to keep Hendrickson on the team for the upcoming season during a recent chat. In his own words, "You let Trey voice his concerns," and further proclaimed, "I love Trey. I've told him that... we want Trey to play for us next year. He will play for us next year."
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