Tee Higgins Contract Update: Bengals plan to use franchise tag amidst WR seeking a long-term deal
The Bengals are facing ample trouble in the defense but they still want to keep hold of their WR 2 Tee Higgins by placing a franchise tag on him.
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Bengals to franchise tag Tee Higgins (Image via IMAGO)
The Cincinnati Bengals are looking to place a non-exclusive franchise tag on wide receiver Tee Higgins. This will be his second year under the tag after playing with it in 2024.
Higgins, who is chasing a long-term deal, may need to settle with a one-year contract or hit free agency to try his luck elsewhere. The franchise tag will pay him $26 million for the upcoming campaign.
The Bengals have to complete the deal from February 18 to 4 pm on March 4 or risk losing Higgins. According to James Rapien of Sports Illustrated, the Bengals intend to keep Higgins for the long term, but at the moment there are other pressing matters to take care of.
Last season the Bengals were one of the best teams on offense, but the defense time and again let them down. As a result, both Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase were overlooked for Best Player awards despite leading the league in most categories.
The Bengals fired defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo after missing out on the playoffs. Rapien pointed out that fixing the defense takes precedence, but Higgins is one of the key cogs in their wheel, which they don’t want to lose even though teams such as the Patriots, Chargers, and Cowboys are ready to poach him.
Higgins has the backing of Burrow, who agreed to take a pay cut to keep him on the team.
We have started this thing [Super Bowl hunt] together. We came in together and the built the same from the ground up and you don’t want to make a habit of letting great players get out of the building. Tee is a guy that does everything right way and works really hard for it. When you have a guy like that, you just can’t let him get out of the building.
Joe Burrow said
Tee Higgins could reject the Bengals franchise tag
Franchise tagging Higgins may satisfy the Bengals for one year, and they will have to deal with him again in 2026. However, the contract is not binding, and the former second-round pick can willingly enter free agency.
Every team wants an elite receiver, but familiarity also plays a big role in the decision. If Higgins does end up rejecting the tag and trying out his luck in free agency, he should consider the proposal from his ex-college teammate.
Higgins spent three seasons with the Clemson Tigers in college. He reached back-to-back CFP finals, won it in 2018, but lost the following year to Burrow and Chase’s supercharged LSU team that also included Justin Jefferson and Clyde Edwards-Helaire.
The quarterback of that Clemson team was none other than the Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence, who expressed his desire to play with his college teammate again.
Tee [Higgins] is awesome, we have a history for sure so that guy, no matter where he goes, obviously I’d love to be throwing to him again, but no matter where he goes, he’s going to be a star.
Trevor Lawrence told Kay Adams on the recent segment of Up & Adams
"Obviously he's got the relationship with Joe (Burrow)… but if that wasn't the case I definitely think i'd be up NEXT as far as Tee and our relationship." 🤝@Trevorlawrencee @heykayadams @teehiggins5 @Jaguars | #DUUUVAL https://t.co/mfocQ6Ul4O
— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) February 17, 2025
Higgins missed four games at the start of last season due to a hamstring injury. He ended up playing 12 games, starting 9 and recorded 73 catches for 911 yards (12.5 YAC) and 10 touchdowns.
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Ishan Misra
(3186 Articles Published)