‘Why I resigned from Cincinnati Bengals today” Tee Higgins announced……
Join for $5
Cincinnati Bengals expected to franchise tag WR Tee Higgins
©Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Coming off a frustrating season, the Cincinnati Bengals are looking to find a way to get back to the playoffs. That starts in the offseason when the team is going to make some key decisions regarding its roster. Included in those decisions is, of course, the fate of wide receiver Tee Higgins.
It’s now being reported by Paul Dehner of The Athletic that the Bengals are expected to use the franchise tag on Higgins.
Without using the franchise tag on Tee Higgins, he would become a free agent when the new league calendar begins in March. The only other option to avoid that would be to sign Higgins to a long-term deal. Of course, Cincinnati could still sign Higgins to a long-term deal after franchising him.
That seems to be Cincinnati’s goal by using the franchise tag on Higgins. It will also leave him with a couple options of his own. If he doesn’t want to play on the franchise tag, he can sit out and try to force the team’s hand. However, if he does choose to play on the tag, he’ll make an estimated $20.7 million in 2024.
It’s a cap hit the team can take in the short term, with quarterback Joe Burrow‘s hit still relatively low in 2024. However, Burrow’s number will be going up by nearly $20 million for the 2025 season. So, it is only a short-term answer.
Signing a long-term deal now would provide Tee Higgins with stability in a violent sport where your standing can quickly change. However, if he does bet on himself and waits a year for the deal, he may be able to help himself out. Multiple elite receivers are coming up on new contracts, meaning the market will get reset. At the same time, that long-term deal may not come with Cincinnati.
Either way, an official decision is coming within weeks, as tags are due by March 5th.
You may also like
Behind the scenes of an all-time John Calipari press conference at Auburn
Stephen A. Smith reportedly hospitalized after Micah Parsons crossover move at NBA All-Star Weekend
Lisa Bluder reveals what Michigan did for Caitlin Clark hitting scoring record
Deshaun Watson lobbies for Tee Higgins to join Cleveland Browns
Division rival Deshaun Watson lobbied for Tee Higgins to join him with the Cleveland Browns late in January.
“We wanna pass the ball. That’s what we’re gonna do. We’re gonna pass the ball a lot,” Watson said.
“We’re gonna take good care of you. The Cleveland fans are gonna love you to death. We got the Clemson ties. We ain’t get to play with each other, but this is our opportunity.”
There is an interesting connection between Watson and Higgins, with both having played at Clemson. However, it would still be a bold move to leave Cincinnati for one of the franchise’s biggest rivals.
Read more
☰
Ryan Kang/Getty Images
NFL Rumors: ‘All Expectations’ Tee Higgins Will Receive Franchise Tag by Bengals
TYLER CONWAY
FEBRUARY 13, 2024
The Cincinnati Bengals are reportedly expected to use the franchise tag on wide receiver Tee Higgins before the start of free agency.
Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic reported the “writing is on the wall and all expectations” are for the Bengals to use their tag on Higgins, and the team baked in the tag when negotiating Joe Burrow’s contract. Burrow’s cap number for the 2024 season is just $29.7 million, the same as his fifth-year option. His number will go up to $46.3 million in 2025.
The franchise tag for wide receivers is projected at $21.7 million.
It seems likely the Bengals’ tag solution for Higgins will only last one season. Not only is Burrow’s number set to skyrocket, Ja’Marr Chase is also due a long-term contract extension sooner rather than later. The Bengals will likely opt into Chase’s fifth-year option in his contract this offseason, guaranteeing him around $22 million in 2025, but will almost certainly negotiate an extension that will make the LSU product one of the NFL’s highest-paid receivers.
Higgins will likely be the odd man out in the cap crunch. He’s coming off an injury-riddled 2023 campaign that saw him set career lows in catches (42), yards (656) and touchdowns (five) while only appearing in 12 games.
Chase has also never topped 1,110 yards or caught more than seven touchdown passes in a season, making him more of a WR2 than Chase’s WR1 status. When you’re paying a quarterback as much as the Bengals are Burrow, something has to give. Running back Joe Mixon could become the first core player to exit this offseason if the Bengals decide his $8.5 million cap number is too high.
Barring a contract agreement below his market value, Higgins will likely become the next—just not until the 2025 offseason. Look for the Bengals to be active in the draft in hopes of finding replacements for Mixon and Higgins on rookie deals.
