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The Bengals Are Using the Franchise Tag on WR Tee Higgins
With the NFL Franchise Tag Deadline Coming Tomorrow, the Bengals Are Once Again Tagging Receiver Tee Higgins
Cincinnati Tags Tee Higgins One More Time
Another offseason is upon the Cincinnati Bengals and wide receiver Tee Higgins. With it, as NFL news reporters have announced, the team has officially placed the franchise tag on the player for a second consecutive season.
Bengals place franchise tag on WR Tee Higgins. pic.twitter.com/SuuBGBcK8g
— NFL (@NFL) March 3, 2025
As NFL rumors continued to build up about Higgins potentially leaving Cincinnati and looking for a new team, with speculations of Higgins looking for upwards of $30 million a year in a new contract, it’s now official that for next season, Cincinnati will continue to have their WR 2 lining up next to Ja’Marr Chase.
tag.
— Tee Higgins⁵ (@teehiggins5) March 3, 2025
So, where does this leave Higgins and the Bengals for the upcoming season, especially with how much turmoil the team will have to deal with, as title expectations and pressure on coach Zac Taylor continue to ramp up?
What Does Tagging Higgins Mean for the Player?
Looking at Tee Higgins’ stats from last season, it made total sense for the player to want Cincinnati to offer him a new contract rather than tag him again.
In 12 NFL games played last season, Higgins put up career-high numbers in touchdowns with ten and 911 receiving yards on 73 receptions. With a level head and rational thinking process, tell me those are not numbers that would make any team want to jump through hoops to try and land a player like him.
There were several teams waiting for the Tee Higgins news to drop as he would’ve had many suitors if he hit the open market next week.
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) March 3, 2025
For a team keen on headlining all NFL picks and predictions again next season, keeping players like Higgins, alongside superstar receiver Ja’Marr Chase and league sack leader Trey Hendrickson, should be equally important.
In my opinion, there’s no logical reasoning as to how Chase and Hendrickson’s extensions should eclipse Higgins getting a new deal as well. It’s not like the team is scrounging for pennies and dimes to make ends meet.
“You see Justin Jefferson getting $35M … if I’m Tee Higgins that’s the number I’m shooting for.”@BMac_SportsTalk is surprised the Bengals placed the Franchise Tag on WR Tee Higgins once again. pic.twitter.com/EbHii0VoZC
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) March 3, 2025
While Chase continues being at the center of all props and accolades in Cincinnati’s passing offense, led by Joe Burrow, it’s because of Higgins’ work as the team’s number two option that’s made every single piece fall into place, leading the Bengals’ offense to be one of the league’s best for the past five seasons.
Where Does This Put the Bengals Moving Forward?
As the Bengals prepare for next season, one thing is sure: the conversations for a new contract to avoid a new round of Tee Higgins trade talks and rumors must be on the team’s list of priorities.
Yes, Cincinnati is not necessarily known for being an organization where big spending is an everyday thing. Still, when your QB is adamant about pushing for Higgins to get a new contract, and your fanbase pleads for one of their favorite players to get a new deal, you should listen to what the people want.
The #Bengals have, in fact, franchise tagged WR Tee Higgins a second time, per @teehiggins5.
No surprise, as Cincy is not in the business of letting good players walk away. They’ll hope to do a long-term deal after the more than $26M tag. pic.twitter.com/XW56WgiW6a
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 3, 2025
If you ask anybody in the league, expectations were high that Higgins would become one of the top free agents in this coming market, if not the biggest target.
Betting odds were already being set on which team had the best chances of landing Cincy’s WR 2, with clear plans of having him become the No.1 receiver wherever he went.
Yet, hoping for a new contract to be offered this offseason, Higgins decided to stay and make some compromises to make it happen. So, pardon my French here: what the f*ck Bengals?
Tee Higgins legitimately left an agent that gets players crazy guarantees. Clearly a move indicating he wants to stay in Cincinnati.
The Bengals can’t have a guy make a concession for them like that and still not get a deal done.
Make. It. Happen.
— Drew Garrison (@DrewGarrison) March 3, 2025
Tee deserves his payday, just like Chase and Hendrickson. So please, Cincinnati, do right by Higgins and offer him the contract he deserves by next season.
