Bengals make big decision on Tee Higgins
The Cincinnati Bengals’ toughest issue going into the summer was what to do with top receiver Tee Higgins, whose contract terminated after the 2023 season. The Bengals did not keep anyone waiting too long.
Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network reported on Friday night that the Bengals will place the franchise tag on Higgins.
He went on to say that “the franchise tag number is expected to be around $21.8M, fully guaranteed.”
It’s worth remembering, however, that the Bengals can still move Higgins or sign him to a long-term contract. This does, however, mean that Higgins, who was one of the top players in this year’s class, will not be eligible for free agency.
Higgins, like his club, is coming off a season marked by injuries. He appeared in just 12 games in 2023, catching 42 catches for 656 yards and five touchdowns. In 2021, he caught 74 catches for 1,091 yards and six scores, guiding the Bengals to Super Bowl LVI. In 2022, Cincinnati repeated as AFC North champions and advanced to the AFC Championship Game. Higgins was again a major contributor, catching 74 catches for 1,029 yards and seven touchdowns.
