Why Bengals are likely to place franchise tag on Tee Higgins in NFL 2024-25 season?

The start of the season for the Cincinnati Bengals was marked by a strong resolve from their starting quarterback, Joe Burrow, who aimed to outperform Patrick Mahomes. However, the team’s aspirations were thwarted by a series of injuries, impacting not only Burrow but also their seasoned player, Tee Higgins, who grappled with injuries throughout the season.

With the offseason on the horizon, the Bengals are faced with the imperative task of addressing contracts for their veteran players, including Higgins, while rumors suggest that the team is leaning towards placing the franchise tag on the recdiver.

Why will the Bengals place a franchise tag on Tee Higgins?

The franchise tag in the NFL serves as a mechanism for teams to retain key players set to enter free agency by offering them a one-year contract. According to reports from The Athletic’s Paul Dehner Jr., Bengals are expected to utilize the franchise tag on Tee Higgins. This strategic move aims to prevent Higgins from hitting the open market when the new league year commences. 

“The writing is on the wall and all expectations are the Bengals will use a franchise tag on Higgins,” Denher Jr. wrote.

Placing the franchise tag on Higgins signifies the Bengals’ high regard for him, as they are willing to commit to paying him a significant amount for a single season. This decision reflects the team’s confidence in Higgins’ value to their roster.

With the deadline looming, the Bengals have until March 5 to officially apply the franchise tag to Higgins. However, reaching a long-term agreement with him after implementing the tag appears improbable for the Cincinnati team. 

Therefore, it appears unlikely that they would agree to a long-term agreement with Higgins before the deadline. If the Bengals decide to move forward with tagging Higgins and he agrees to the offer, he could potentially earn a guaranteed salary of around $20.6 million for the upcoming season.

Tee Higgins’ IG follow of Sauce Gardner sets off Jets trade rumors

With ongoing speculation surrounding Tee Higgins’ upcoming free agency, the player has further fueled rumors with his recent social media activity. Higgins, a well-known figure within the Bengals organization, surprised many by reaching out to New York Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner on Instagram.

While a simple follow may not seem significant, given Higgins’ impending free agency and Gardner’s apparent interest in him, the move has sparked suspicion and intensified the speculation surrounding his future.

Notably, Gardner previously expressed his opinion on Twitter regarding the Jets’ potential targets in free agency, suggesting that they should pursue wide receivers Calvin Ridley from the Jacksonville Jaguars and Tee Higgins. This public endorsement by Gardner further fuels the speculation surrounding Higgins’ potential future in New York.

Higgins’ impressive track record, achieving back-to-back 1,000-yard receiving seasons in 2022, justifies the desire to have him as a teammate. Nevertheless, his performance took a hit in the 2023 season due to injuries. After being limited to only 12 games, his productivity decreased. Despite this setback, he managed to record 42 catches, 656 yards, and 5 touchdowns.

It will remain to be seen if he ends up joining Gardner in New York city.