Bengals place franchise tag on WR Tee Higgins
The Cincinnati Bengals have retained star wide receiver Tee Higgins after designating him with the franchise tag for the second straight offseason.
The franchise tender will pay Higgins $26.2 million for the 2025 season if he’s unable to secure a long-term deal with Cincinnati before the July 15 deadline.
The Bengals are believed to be strongly interested in working out a long-term contract with the 26-year-old. He has been a key piece offensively, and his teammates Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase have each been extremely vocal in wanting him to stay with Cincinnati.
Higgins is a strong factor lined up opposite of Chase as he’s provided consistent production. He’s coming off posting 73 receptions for 911 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns despite playing in only 12 games.
Through his first five seasons with the Bengals, he has recorded 330 catches, 4,595 receiving yards, and 34 touchdowns.
The Bengals have a busy offseason ahead as the organization has voiced its intention to work out lucrative long-term deals with Higgins, Chase, and defensive end Trey Hendrickson.
The latter two still have one more year left in their respective deals, but each is lined up for massive extensions. Chase is coming off earning the triple crown after posting career highs with 127 receptions for 1,708 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns.
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Chase is expected to become potentially the highest-paid player outside of a quarterback. Meanwhile, Hendrickson is coming off posting his second straight campaign with at least 17.5 sacks.
Nonethelesst, the Bengals are headed toward a critical offseason.
