Tee Higgins Addresses Bengals Contract Talks Before FA: 'Not in My Hands Right Now'

Tee Higgins, wide receiver for the Cincinnati Bengals, is uncertain about his future with the team as he approaches free agency next month.

"Obviously, we want to build something here in Cincy, but it's not in my hands right now," Higgins told reporters. "I've got to do what I've got to do and if that's go to another team, you know, that's what happens."

After finishing season with 911 yards, 10 touchdowns (a career high) and 73 receptions, Higgins and the Bengals have yet to reach an agreement on a contract renewal, something they were not able to finalize last season.

Unable to strike a longer-term deal, Higgins signed a one-year, $21.8 million contract with the Bengals. The team finished the season 9-8 and missed the postseason.

With that in mind, Higgins is now considering his future beyond Cincinnati, the only team he's played for over the past five years.

"I'm just trying to stay away from it right now," Higgins added. "Clear my head, get away from the game, especially after tonight, clear my head. Get away from the game for a few weeks. And then, obviously, in March that's when things start ramping up for me, with free agency coming up, and I would love to be here in Cincinnati. I love it here. I love the city. I love the fans. I love coaching staff—everything that we're building. But it's out of my control."

In addition to focusing on his own future, Higgins would like to see the majority of the Bengals' core stay intact heading into next season. That certainly includes tight end Mike Gesicki, who will become an unrestricted free agent and finished the season with 665 yards and two touchdowns.

"Yeah, of course, we all want to keep the core pieces what it is (right now) even with Mike Gesicki," Higgins said to Danneman. "That's a core piece as well. So obviously, we want to build something here in Cincy. But you know, it's not in my hands right now. So I got to do what I need to do and if that's go to another team. That's what happens."

With many moving pieces expected for Cincinnati in the offseason, the 26-year-old wide receiver, Higgins, would undoubtedly attract a lot of interest if the Bengals were to move on from him.