NFL
Bengals WR Tee Higgins Set To Receive Franchise Tag For Second Consecutive Season
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In a surprising move, the Cincinnati Bengals are planning to use the franchise tag on wide receiver Tee Higgins.
Bengals To Tag Tee Higgins
Sources: The Bengals' plan to use the franchise tag on Tee Higgins. Here's what it means for a long-term deal, when it could happen and other details that we have on the star wide receiver⬇️https://t.co/TdLrFWc6Bn
— James Rapien (@JamesRapien) February 17, 2025
Per James Rapien, the Bengals are preparing to use the non-exclusive franchise tag on Higgins.
This will be the second consecutive year that Higgins has been tagged. Last season, Higgins played on the franchise tag, which came to a one-year contract worth $21,816,000.
Higgins was the only player in 2024 to receive the franchise tag and not agree to terms on a contract extension.
Rapien’s report states Cincinnati plans to sign Higgins to a long-term deal.
The franchise tag window begins on Tuesday, Feb. 18, at 4 p.m. ET and ends on Tuesday, March 4, at 4 p.m. ET.
While Higgins is expected to be tagged, the two sides may not agree to a contract extension before the March 4 date.
If Higgins does not receive an extension, he will make $26.18 million on the franchise tag.
Joe Burrow Publicly Expresses Desire For Team To Sign Tee Higgins
#Bengals QB Joe Burrow on impending FA Tee Higgins: "You don't want to make a habit of letting great players get out of the building. … You just can't let him get out of the building."
Message sent.pic.twitter.com/1Ul5TpSfVt
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) January 5, 2025
One player that will be happy to see Higgins return to the Bengals is quarterback Joe Burrow.
The star quarterback has publicly expressed his wishes for the team to re-sign Higgins.
“We started this whole thing together. We came in together, and we built this thing from the ground up,” Burrow said at a press conference after the regular season ended (via Ari Meirov). “You don’t want to make a habit of letting great players get out of the building.
Burrow added that Tee is a “great player.”
Higgins was expected to be one of the top free agents this offseason. If the Bengals use the non-exclusive tag on Higgins, teams can still make contract offers to the wide receiver.
If Higgins agrees to an offer sheet with another team, the Bengals have five days to match the offer. If the Bengals do not match the offer, they will receive two first-round draft picks as compensation.
Higgins is not the only Bengals player looking for a new contract. Ja’Marr Chase and Trey Hendrickson are both seeking long-term extensions.
