Deshaun Watson Wants Bengals’ Tee Higgins To Join Browns

Tee Higgins most likely won’t be able to sign a free agency contract this summer. However, Deshaun Watson would like Higgins to think about moving to Cleveland with him if that’s the case.

Deshaun Watson Wants Bengals’ Tee Higgins To Join Browns

Watson recently tried to convince Higgins to sign with the Cleveland Browns, who advanced to the postseason the previous year in spite of injuries that ended the seasons for both Watson and stalwart Pro Bowl running back Nick Chubb.

No way in hell Tee Higgins decides he wants to play his prime years with Deshaun Watson & wear brown every game pic.twitter.com/KhY7uKaaHv

— Sammy (@sammy______G) January 27, 2024

“We wanna pass the ball. That’s what we’re gonna do,” Watson told quarterback trainer Quincy Avery on the “QB Unplugged” podcast. “We’re gonna pass the ball a lot.”

“We’re gonna take good care of you. The Cleveland fans are gonna love you to death. We got the Clemson ties. We ain’t get to play with each other, but this is our opportunity. So like, man, come on over to The Land.”

It’s unclear if Higgins would be considered by the Browns organization if he were to become a free agency. The Bengals have the authority to apply the franchise tag and exclusive negotiation rights until the end of his contract.

Bengals fans won’t like this, but #Browns QB Deshaun Watson openly advocated for the team to sign soon to be free agent WR Tee Higgins today on their podcast⬇️⬇️

(🎥 via: @Lockerverse, @deshaunwatson and @QuincyAvery) pic.twitter.com/t4KjpnUvsf

— MoreForYouCleveland (@MoreForYou_CLE) January 26, 2024

Cleveland is already committed to pass catchers with a lot of money and cap space. Amari Cooper, a receiver, makes $20 million in salary plus $23.776 million in cap charges. David Njoku, a tight end, has another $9.645 million scheduled for the upcoming season.

Additionally, Watson will be subject to a huge $63.77 million cap charge in 2024. His $46 million compensation may be restructured to simply minimize it. However, such strategy kicks the can, raising his cap charges going forward.

In Super Bowl LVI, the Bengals lost by three points to the Rams, but Higgins scored two touchdowns and Cincinnati’s players and front staff have made it known how much they appreciate him.

#Browns QB Deshaun Watson made a public request for WR Tee Higgins to sign with Cleveland this off-season. Could the Browns bring in another Clemson alum for the offense?

“We wanna pass the ball. We’re going to pass the ball a lot,” Watson told his QB trainer Quincy Avery on his… pic.twitter.com/SvgiPqLJXD

— The Dawgs – A Cleveland Browns Podcast (@thedawgspodcast) January 27, 2024

However, the team also has to re-sign fellow wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase, who is expected to want a contract that places him among the highest paid receivers in the league.

Although Higgins’ compensation won’t be as high as Chase’s, it will still probably put him close to $20 million a season. His current market worth is $18.6 million each season for four years.

Therefore, even if it’s simple for team members like Watson to experiment with fantasy football, the pay cap still exists. There is a certain amount of money available.

Browns’ Deshaun Watson recruiting Tee Higgins to ‘come on over to The Land’ https://t.co/rz8byTjCCu pic.twitter.com/KWHcwaxQlq

— New York Post (@nypost) January 28, 2024

The good news is that teams will find it easier to handle large salaries as the cap continues to rise. If the Bengals decide against using the franchise tag on Higgins and instead sign him to a long-term contract, it is unclear if the Browns will look into providing one to him.