Steelers' AFC North Rival Has Major Problem Brewing With 1 Important Offensive Player

It's hard to disagree with the notion that the Pittsburgh Steelers will compete in the NFL's toughest division in 2024. The AFC North is absolutely loaded with talent and each team is coming off of a season that resulted in a record above .500. The Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns will all pose problems for Mike Tomlin and co. It's especially more difficult for Pittsburgh in 2024 given the fact that all six divisional contests will come in the final eight weeks of the season with the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs also being mixed in come the month of December.

Each team did what it could to improve through free agency and the draft, but there is a missing piece when it comes to the Bengals that could end up hurting the organization's chances of winning a AFC North Division Title in 2024. Joe Burrow should be back and near, or at 100%, after a 2023 campaign full of injuries, but he might end up not having one of his favorite targets.

Tee Higgins is in an interesting situation. Cincinnati has him waiting for a contract extension, but the wide receiver refused to sign his franchise tag and will not be present for the franchise's Organized Team Activities (OTAs). Essentially, he is trying to pass on a one-year, over $21 million deal in order to lock in long-term security as a professional football player.

Ja'Marr Chase's fifth-year option was picked up for 2025, but it's more likely than not that he sees a large amount of money come his way following the 2024 season. Mix that in with Burrow's massive cap hits over the next half decade and it seems as if Higgins won't get paid what he believes he deserves if he ends up staying with the Bengals.

Higgins has had a successful NFL career since being drafted by the Bengals in the second round back in 2020. He was inactive for five games in 2023, but has otherwise been healthy throughout his four-year NFL stint. In his first three seasons, he never had less than 900 yards receiving and has hauled in 24 touchdowns in 58 total games played.

It sure seems like the wideout is going to refuse to play if he isn't given some kind of extension. He has made it clear that he has no interest of playing under the franchise tag and reports of him requesting a trade have been out in the universe for several months since the NFL's new league year began in March. Cincinnati has a decision to make, and ultimately, the organization may choose to trust the Burrow and Chase duo while leaving Higgins out of the equation.

The Bengals drafted Jermaine Burton out of the University of Alabama in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft, leading many to believe that it's possible the decision has already been made to move on from Higgins. The goal of Cincinnati could be, however, to get one more years of his contributions prior to allowing him to be a free agent come the 2025 offseason. That's not something that benefits Higgins, especially if he were to get injured in 2024. A trade could absolutely be on the table.

Steelers Completing Rare In-Division Trade Not Off The Table

It's hard to believe that the Bengals' front office would take a call from General Manager Omar Khan, but desperate times call for desperate measures. If it seems certain that Higgins will not play under a temporary tag, Cincinnati may be forced to deal him. Pittsburgh has the money in future years to pay him his worth. The idea of Khan attempting to acquire him shouldn't be discounted. The wide receiver room in the Steel City is iffy at best, leaving the possibly of a potential move within the realm of possibility.

Do you think the Steelers could attempt to trade for Higgins? Let us know in the comments below!

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