The Cincinnati Bengals again aren’t letting Tee Higgins hit free agency.
The Bengals have placed the franchise tag on Higgins ahead of Tuesday’s 4 p.m. ET deadline, the team announced. The Bengals intend to continue to negotiate a long-term extension with the wide receiver before the NFL’s July 15 deadline to sign franchise players to long-term contracts.
Cincinnati’s decision to tag Higgins comes just days after Bengals director of player personnel Duke Tobin said the team’s preference was to sign Higgins to a long-term contract at the NFL combine.
Higgins posted ‘tag.’ to his X account on Monday afternoon.
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Given that this is the second season that Higgins is getting the franchise tag, the value is up to $26.2 million.
The wide receiver franchise tag is set at $23.959 million.
Higgins asked the Bengals for a trade before he reluctantly played under the franchise tag last season. The wide receiver is faced with a similar one-year pact this year.
Quarterback Joe Burrow has advocated for the Bengals to sign Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase to long-term extensions this offseason. Chase has one year remaining on his rookie contract and is eligible for a lucrative extension. The trio led the Bengals to the No. 1 passing attack in the NFL in 2024.
Burrow topped the league in passing attempts, completions, pass yards and touchdown passes. Chase won the receiver triple crown, and Higgins registered 73 catches, 911 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns.
Higgins has 330 receptions, 4,595 receiving yards and 34 touchdowns in five seasons all in Cincinnati. The Bengals originally drafted Higgins in the second round of the 2020 draft, one round after the club selected Joe Burrow No. 1 overall.
Higgins was the No. 1 player on USA TODAY Sports’ top 25 free agents list.
Why Bengals franchise tagged Tee Higgins
The Bengals don’t want to weaken their high-powered passing attack.
Higgins and Chase are regarded as the best wide receiver duo in the NFL. Burrow, who won his second NFL Comeback Player of the Year award in 2024, has great chemistry with his two top receivers.
Higgins has tallied at least 900 receiving yards in four of his five seasons in Cincy, including two 1,000-yard receiving seasons in 2021-22.
However, Cincinnati’s decision to tag Higgins doesn’t appease the wideout who’s been vocal about his desire for a long-term contract. By NFL rule, the Bengals have until July 15 to workout a long-term deal with Higgins before the franchise tag becomes permanent for the 2025 season.
Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Tyler Dragon on X @TheTylerDragon.
