Deshaun Watson, the quarterback for the Cleveland Browns, desires for Tee Higgins to join him.
Deshaun Watson, the quarterback for the Cleveland Browns, has Tee Higgins as his top priority in the free agency market.
Higgins, set to become a free agent this offseason, has garnered attention after an impressive four-year tenure with the Cincinnati Bengals. During this period, he accumulated 257 receptions for 3,684 yards and 24 touchdowns, achieving over 1,000 yards in two seasons.
Higgins was a key topic during discussions on Watson’s podcast “QB Unplugged,” where the Browns’ standout quarterback openly advocated for him to join Cleveland.
“You know what’s up with us man. I know you are down to roll. We want to pass the ball and are going to pass it a lot,” Watson said on the episode, which went live on January 26. “We are going to take care of you. The Cleveland fans will love you to death and we have the Clemson ties. We didn’t get to play with each other but this is our opportunity. Come on over to The Land.”
It’s a message to Cleveland’s front office that Watson wants more weapons. The Browns already have Pro Bowler Amari Cooper as their top pass-catcher but could use a reliable threat like Higgins to beef up their attack.
Watson is expected back for training camp after suffering a season-ending shoulder injury. He’s appeared in just 12 games with the Browns since being acquired via a blockbuster trade in 2022.Watson expressed a comparable sentiment when discussing the acquisition of DeAndre Hopkins last offseason. However, Hopkins opted to sign with the Tennessee Titans instead . Higgins will have the opportunity to explore free agency, but convincing him to leave Cincinnati could prove challenging. Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow expressed confidence that Higgins will return for the next season.
Burrow expressed his strong desire for Tee to remain with the team, highlighting his integral role in their successes and emphasizing their close relationship. He believes that Tee’s return is anticipated by the entire locker room, underscoring his value both as a player and as a representative of the Bengals’ ethos.
Similarly, Coach Taylor emphasized his hope that Higgins remains part of the team, especially alongside Ja’Marr Chase. Taylor acknowledged the ongoing discussions about Higgins’ future but indicated that there’s currently no definitive information. He emphasized Higgins’ significance to the team’s plans and suggested that it would be challenging to envision the team without him.
Watson expressed a comparable sentiment regarding acquiring DeAndre Hopkins last offseason, but Hopkins opted to sign with the Tennessee Titans instead.
Browns Prying Tee Higgins From Bengals Will be Tough
Higgins is set to become a free agent, but persuading him to leave Cincinnati could prove challenging. According to Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, he anticipates Higgins returning for the next season.
“Obviously, we’d love to have Tee back,” Burrow said. “He’s a big part of what we’ve done here. And there’s no secret (with) our relationship, so I expect Tee to be back. I think that’s the sentiment in the locker room. We all want Tee back, we know what kind of player he is, what kind of person he is. He’s what being a Bengal is all about.”
Bengals head coach Zac Taylor also expressed that he hopes Higgins sticks around to play alongside Ja’Marr Chase.
“It’s hard to imagine life without Tee Higgins. Those are all conversations we’ll continue to have upstairs. Tee and I talked and I have no information on that. Those are things that evolve,” Taylor said. “Tee is a big part of what we’re doing and it would be hard for him to imagine not being here.”
