The Cincinnati Bengals aren’t taking any chances with wide receiver Tee Higgins.
The Bengals have informed Higgins that the team will be using the franchise tag on him, according to a report from NFL insider Ian Rapoport. The tag would place Higgins’ cap figure at around $21.8 million.
The franchise tag number is expected to be around $21.8M, fully guaranteed, for the #Bengals and Tee Higgins. The first tagged player of this window. https://t.co/dsoQEeThv5
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 24, 2024
It’s no surprise that Cincinnati will tag Higgins, who was slated to become a free agent this offseason. Reports had already emerged earlier this month indicating that the Bengals would do exactly that.
But Higgins and the team were reportedly still in talks for a long-term extension in the lead-up to the franchise tag news. Cincinnati had until the March 5 deadline to tag Higgins.
The Bengals will still be able to negotiate a long-term deal with Higgins in the coming months.
Higgins missed five games in 2023 due to various injuries but he remained productive when he was able play. The 25-year-old wideout tallied 42 catches for 656 yards and 5 touchdowns in 12 games played last season.
Higgins still finished second on the Bengals in receiving TDs and third in receiving yards despite the missed time.
