Ja’Marr Chase has a bold reaction to the Bengals’ decision to franchise-tagging Tee Higgins
The Bengals are trying hard to keep their central trio of Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins together amid financial repercussions.
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Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins (Image via Business Insider)
The Cincinnati Bengals have placed the franchise tag on wide receiver Tee Higgins for the second straight year, leaving his future with the team uncertain. This move gives the Bengals three options—trade him, sign him to a long-term deal, or have him play on the tag again.
However, not everyone is thrilled about the decision. Tee Higgins kept it brief, posting a simple “tag” on X before insiders confirmed the news. But one of the most notable reactions came from his teammate and fellow wide receiver, Ja’Marr Chase, who seemed just as frustrated.
Chase has long been vocal about wanting to keep Higgins in Cincinnati, and this latest development only adds to the uncertainty surrounding their offense.
He took to his Instagram story with a humorous yet revealing reaction. He shared an image of Joe Burrow giving a side-eye to the camera, alongside a small figure in the corner looking at his phone with the caption, “WHAT?”. To leave no doubt about the subject of his post, Chase also tagged Higgins directly.
Oh Boy: #Bengals WR Ja’Marr Chase appears to be upset at the front office who just franchise tagged Tee Higgins:
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) March 3, 2025
He posted on IG: “What? TeeHiggins”
😬😬😬 pic.twitter.com/uZGoIpukS8
The Bengals’ front office seems to be balancing a tricky situation. On one side, they want to keep Burrow happy—he’s made it clear that he wants his top weapons to stay. On the other hand, locking up too much money in three players could make it difficult to build a well-rounded roster.
The Bengals’ offense is nearly unstoppable when Higgins and Chase are on the field together with quarterback Joe Burrow. Their chemistry makes them one of the most dangerous receiving duos in the league. Without Higgins, defenses could easily key in on Chase, making the offense far more predictable.
Cincinnati Bengals has complicated Tee Higgins’ extension with the franchise tag
By placing the franchise tag on wide receiver Tee Higgins for the second straight year, the Cincinnati Bengals may have made contract negotiations even more complicated for themselves.
According to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, the move forces the Bengals into a difficult financial situation. This is mainly due to the high costs of the Tee Higgins tag, which is just over $26 million for the 2024 season.
The challenge lies in Cincinnati’s long-standing approach to contracts. Breer pointed out, that the Bengals typically do not guarantee significant money beyond the first year of a deal—except for quarterbacks. This philosophy now puts them at a crossroads.
If they intend to sign Higgins to a long-term contract, they will need to offer a front-loaded deal with more than $26 million guaranteed in the first year. The alternative option is to completely change their contract structure by guaranteeing more money over multiple years.
Adding to the complexity is the looming contract extension for Ja’Marr Chase. The Bengals’ star wide receiver is expected to reset the non-quarterback market. Balancing these two high-profile extensions while maintaining their financial strategy will be a major test for Cincinnati’s front office.
If the team continues along a fine line of financial management, they could find themselves in trouble quite soon enough.
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