One perfect trade to revitalize Aaron Rodgers and the Packers

Why the Bengals do this trade

While Higgins has emerged as one of the better receivers in football, his situation is a difficult one if he’d like to stay in Cincinnati. This is a classic situation of an over-abundance of wealth for the Bengals.

After the 2023 campaign, Cincinnati will have to decide whether or not they will re-sign Higgins. The problem with doing so is that it creates a very, very tight cap situation. The Bengals also have to figure out the future contracts of quarterback Joe Burrow and Higgins’ fellow wide receiver, Ja’Marr Chase.

Burrow, first of all, is going to get paid big money. Quarterbacks, of course, are getting record-setting deals nowadays. With Burrow being so young and coming off his rookie contract soon, and having led them to a Super Bowl appearance already, there’s a fat check in his future.

Chase, meanwhile, is also going to be paid top-tier money. He’ll likely end up having a top-five salary at the position when it’s finalized. At that point, it won’t make sense financially for the Bengals to keep Higgins. This isn’t a case where there’s any bad blood or trade demands. It’s purely a logical move from the Bengals’ standpoint.