Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow publicly supported teammates Tee Higgins and Trey Hendrickson in their efforts to secure longer-term and more lucrative deals by making trade requests.

"Those guys have their business they need to take care of. I support them in every way," Burrow told Cincinnati media in a Tuesday press conference (h/t Bengals senior writer Geoff Hobson).

"Both those guys have earned everything that has come to them and more. I'll support them all the way through it. Whatever they feel like is best for their career. That's for them and their agents and their families to decide.

"But we are here to win football games. I really hope both those guys are here next year because we are a better football team with both of them. They are both great locker room guys, too. They are going to do what they've got to do, but when the time comes for them to come back, if that time comes, we are going to welcome them back and hit our stride."

The franchise-tagged Higgins previously told reporters in April that he still anticipates playing in Cincinnati in 2024 while also expressing his love for the city and team. ESPN's Adam Schefter reported in March that Higgins is disappointed his camp and the team haven't had long-term contract discussions since March 2023.

Hendrickson, who has two years left on a four-year, $60 million deal, wants a better commitment from the team, per his agent Harold Lewis to ESPN's Ben Baby.

"Our No. 1 goal is to get a long-term commitment from them," Lewis said on April 24. "If we can't, then we're asking for a trade. And hopefully if he gets traded, that's what we do -- get a long-term commitment with somewhere else."

It's clear why Burrow would love to have both players back. Higgins and Hendrickson have been instrumental figures on the team this decade, most especially during a fantastic two-year run (2021, 2022) that saw the Bengals reach two AFC Championship Games and win one.

The 25-year-old Higgins has two 1,000-yard seasons in his four NFL campaigns. Last year served as something of a setback because of a hamstring injury, but he still managed 42 catches for 656 yards and five scores in 12 games. He and the Bengals can still come to a long-term agreement by July 15 to avoid Higgins playing on the tag in 2024.

Hendrickson, 29, has outplayed his contract. He's made the Pro Bowl each of the last three years, amassing 39.5 sacks as a Bengal since he joined the team in 2021 following four years with the New Orleans Saints. Last year was his best yet with 17.5 sacks.

We'll see what comes to fruition in Cincinnati, but as of now, both players remain Bengals as the team looks to improve upon a disappointing 8-9 campaign in which Burrow missed seven games with a season-ending wrist injury.