The Cincinnati Bengals made a significant move by franchising wide receiver Tee Higgins for the second consecutive year. The tag, confirmed by multiple sources including official NFL sources, ensures Higgins will remain on the team’s roster in the 2025 season unless a long-term deal is reached or a trade is executed. The franchise tag, a mechanism that allows teams to retain key players who are set to become free agents, will pay Higgins approximately $26.1 million for the upcoming season, a notable increase from the $21.8 million he earned under the tag in 2024.
This move comes as little surprise to those following the Bengals’ offseason strategy. With the franchise tag deadline on March 4, the Bengals had been signaling a wish to keep Higgins, a member of their high-powered offense along with quarterback Joe Burrow and other wideout Ja’Marr Chase. Previously, reports mentioned the team’s desire for a long-term contract but with negotiations still in progress and no deal struck, the tag gives Cincinnati time to negotiate a multi-year contract. The non-exclusive status of the tag also makes it possible for other clubs to negotiate with Higgins, but the team that poaches him would be required to pay the Bengals two first-round draft picks—a significant price that will not be feasible.
Impact of the Tee Higgins Franchise Tag
Tee Higgins, who is currently 26 years old, has proved himself to the Bengals in five seasons, with 330 receptions, 4,595 yards, and 34 touchdowns. His 2024 campaign, while beset by injuries that limited him to 12 games, nevertheless had him snag 73 passes for 911 yards and 10 touchdowns—bookended by a three-TD performance, including the game-winner, during an overtime victory against the Denver Broncos. Burrow, who openly made it known he wanted Higgins back, famously stated in December, “Tee is a need, yes,” and proclaiming optimism that the team could retain him.
The decision to label Tee Higgins again has brought about both positive and negative feelings. It’s a functional move for the Bengals to retain their offensive anchor, especially with a 9-8, underwhelming year in 2024. Keeping Higgins locks up Burrow one of his most reliable targets, even as the team begins the monumental undertaking of inking a similarly gigantic extension for Chase, who will become the league’s highest-paid non-quarterback.
But the second straight tag would strain the relationship with Higgins, who has been seeking a long-term deal to find stability and a salary commensurate with his status as the league’s top receiver. Social media accounts and past reports suggest frustration may be mounting—Higgins’s mysterious “cap” emoji tweet on February 26 raised eyebrows, with some interpreting it as skepticism of the Bengals’ desire for a long-term contract.
What is next?
It makes economic sense in the short term for Cincinnati to apply the tag. A long-term deal would begin above the $26.1 million tag threshold and might close to $30 million or even higher on the open market based on earlier projections. By putting the tag on him, the Bengals kick that expense down the line, spacing their salary cap cost as they sort through Chase’s extensions and that of defensive end Trey Hendrickson. But this plan may push Higgins out, who would request a trade if negotiations falter, although no concrete signals of a trade request have been observed as of March 3.
In the meantime, the Bengals have extended themselves to July 15, 2025, to strike a long-term deal with Higgins. The move keeps their Super Bowl window open with Burrow playing at his best but also shows the thin line they’re walking—trading off the desires of their franchise quarterback, the limitations of the salary cap, and the aspirations of a great receiver who could command a king’s ransom elsewhere. The Bengals front office must answer this question, pay Higgins, or pay key pieces to improve their defense. As the offseason goes on, everyone will be watching Cincinnati to see if they can get a deal done with their star receiver.