Given the struggles of Jermaine Burton and other misses, the Cincinnati Bengals feel like a team pacing to get Tee Higgins back on an extension this offseason.
Until that actually happens, though, the Bengals will keep coming up in trade and free-agency speculation.
A good recent example comes from Bleacher Report’s Maurice Moton, who lists the Bengals as one of the top landing spots in the league for Los Angeles Rams wideout Cooper Kupp:
Kupp also has ties to Bengals head coach Zac Taylor, who served as the Rams’ assistant wide receivers coach in 2017. As the Bengals’ primary play-caller, Taylor could see Kupp as a trustworthy veteran who fits in his offense.
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Knowing how the Bengals like to operate, though, the discussion is pretty moot from the jump. Kupp feels like a cut candidate for the Rams if they can’t find a trade partner, but Kupp is starting to age (31) and hasn’t played a full season since 2021.
On paper, the idea of Kupp spacing an offense alongside Ja’Marr Chase is nice. But an agent change, Joe Burrow’s demands and reports point to Higgins returning.
If the Bengals are going to spend big on a non-Chase contract, it’s going to be on the guy already proven within the offense and beloved in the building and city.