Bengals Focused on Securing Long Term Deal with Tee Higgins

Bengals Focused on Securing Long-Term Deal with Tee Higgins

The Bengals may finally be listening to their franchise quarterback, Joe Burrow. On Monday, they made it clear that they intend to sign former second-round pick Tee Higgins to a long-term contract, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.

More importantly, the team hopes to do it before using another franchise tag on Higgins, which would cost them $26.2 million. However, if both parties can’t come to an agreement before the March 4th deadline, it seems likely the Bengals will once again use the tag. The window to start placing franchise tags opens on Feb. 18.

If the franchise tag is used, the Bengals would have until July 15th to work out a long-term deal or pay the franchise tag amount.

Joe Burrow has been very vocal about bringing Tee Higgins back. The two have had a great connection coming out of the 2020 draft, with Higgins posting two 1,000-yard seasons during that time. Higgins has been the perfect number two for Ja’Marr Chase and helps make this Bengals offense explode.

Higgins’ only real issue so far has been dealing with injuries. Lingering hamstring issues have seen him miss five games in each of the last two seasons. But it’s clear that when Tee Higgins is healthy and on the field, he brings this Bengals offense to a new level.

The other issue here is the Bengals themselves. They have a lengthy list of guys they let walk simply because they didn’t want to shell out the long-term contracts—guys like Joe Mixon, and Jessie Bates III, to name a couple. So it only seemed right for Tee Higgins to join that illustrious list and find success elsewhere.

Things looked bleak last year after Higgins was franchise-tagged the first time–requesting a trade a week after revealing the two sides weren’t close to a deal. Higgins wasn’t traded and again battled injuries during the 2024 season, playing in just nine games.

So maybe this time, the two sides can come together and figure something out. By that, I mean the Bengals grow a pair and show they are willing to spend money and commit to this core around Joe Burrow.

You’ve let other guys walk, you can’t change that. But when your franchise QB yells from the rooftops to bring back one of his receivers. You do it, even if it means you gotta spend a little money. The Bengals have $46 million in cap heading into this offseason, according to Over The Cap.

Cincinnati has more than enough resources to not only bring back Higgins but also try to extend Chase, who certainly will expect a big payday when the time comes. Don’t be greedy, Cincinnati. Spend the money and make your quarterback happy. It’s as simple as that.

***

Subscribe to our YouTube!!

Follow us on X!!

Subscribe to our Twitch!!