Could former Clemson star Tee Higgins get traded during the 2024 NFL Draft?

The Cincinnati Bengals receiver was franchise-tagged this offseason, then subsequently requested a trade in March.

This week, Higgins said he expects to play for the Bengals in 2024. However, with he and the franchise failing to reach a long-term deal, his future is still up in the air as this year’s draft approaches in less than a week.

On Friday, CBS Sports pegged Higgins among players with uncertain futures who could impact the first round and be dealt to a new team on Day 1 of the draft.

“Proven players in the league are part of draft deals, usually as collateral to move up or for a high-end talent in the first found or as a way to acquire more picks,” CBS Sports’ Jeff Kerr wrote. “Remember, deadlines spur action — and there’s no closer deadline than on draft night.”

Here’s what Kerr had to say regarding the possibility of Higgins being traded during the draft:

Higgins is under the franchise tag by the Bengals at $21.816 million, but he’s mulling the potential of a trade while seeking a long-term contract. Higgins did say last week he’s anticipating playing in Cincinnati for 2024, but the long-term extension still remains up in the air unless they can get a deal done by mid-July.

The Bengals don’t have to make a decision on Higgins by draft night, but there will be suitors for his services. If Cincinnati wants to move up in the draft, it does have Higgins as trade collateral. Its preference would be to keep him around in a Super Bowl window.

Higgins dealt with injuries last season, contributing to a dropoff in production. He played in a career-low 12 games while posting career-lows with 42 receptions, 656 yards and five touchdowns.

However, Higgins had back-to-back 1,000-yard receiving seasons the previous two years, tallying 13 total touchdowns in that span. The 6-foot-4, 219-pounder has been highly productive overall in his NFL career, during which he has hauled in 257 receptions for 3,684 yards and 24 touchdowns.

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