Bengals Place Franchise Tag On Tee Higgins

Bengals Place Franchise Tag On Tee Higgins

Tag… you’re it! The franchise tag window is officially open in the NFL and the Cincinnati Bengals are the first team to utilize it. Tee Higgins isn’t going anywhere and will stay with the team that drafted him for at least another season.

The former Clemson product will receive the franchise tag worth $21.8 million and fully guaranteed for the 2024-25 NFL Season.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network was the first to report the news:

Source: The #Bengals informed star WR Tee Higgins that they are franchising him.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 24, 2024

The question now is if the Bengals can keep Higgins long term. The longer they wait, the more the price goes up. Especially given the historic rise in the cap. Cincinnati will have until the middle of July to get a long term contract done with Higgins. Otherwise, he will play on the tag.

For Higgins, he may want to play on the tag. It’s not exactly a small sum of money. Plus, 2023 was kinda a nightmare season for everyone involved in Cincy. Joe Burrow got hurt and Higgins struggled with his own injuries. Higgins played in just 11 games a year ago battling rib, ankle, and hamstring injuries.

In 2023, Higgins notched 42 receptions for 656 receiving yards and five touchdowns. Again, he may be better served just riding this year out and trying to have a mega contract year.

Tee Higgins Wants To Stay With Bengals Long Term

This was the right move for the Bengals. Keeping the Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase core around gives Joe Burrow a hell of a group of targets. The only question left on that area is if the Bengals can keep Tyler Boyd or will Charlie Jones take his spot?

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