Bengals place franchise tag on veteran wide receiver Tee Higgins
Before the onset of the offseason, the Cincinnati Bengals have secured one key piece of their future by placing the franchise tag on wide receiver Tee Higgins.
The designation keeps Higgins in tow for at least next season while giving them a July 15 deadline to work out a long-term deal.
If a new contract isn’t hammered out, Higgins will play the 2024 campaign under a $21.816 million salary, which is the NFL franchise tag total for wide receiver next season.
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Higgins has played a significant role in the Bengals’ passing game, totaling 257 receptions on 403 targets for 3,684 receiving yards and 24 touchdowns over his first four seasons. That includes him surpassing 1,000 receiving yards twice and recording at least five touchdowns in each campaign.
“Tee has done an outstanding job for us since we drafted him in 2020,” Bengals coach Zac Taylor said in a statement via ESPN. “I’m glad that he’ll continue to be a big part of our offense and our team.”
With Higgins remaining aboard, the Bengals retain depth in their passing game. However, the focus shifts over to star wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase, who is due for a significant payday ahead.
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Chase is heading into the fourth year of his rookie deal that includes a $21.8 million fifth option that the Bengals will likely pick up.
The Pro Bowl wideout has proven to be one of the league’s best offensive talents and quarterback Joe Burrow’s favorite passing game target.
All that suggests he could garner one of the biggest contracts for a wide receiver in NFL history in the near future.
