The biggest question the Cincinnati Bengals were facing this offseason was the future of star wide receiver Tee Higgins with the team. But it looks like he will be sticking around in Cincinnati for at least one more season.
According to a report from league insider Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, the Cincinnati Bengals have decided to use their franchise tag on Tee Higgins this offseason to keep him in Cincinnati.
“Source: The #Bengals informed star WR Tee Higgins that they are franchising him,” Rapoport said in a post on X, the social media website that was formerly known as Twitter.
Source: The #Bengals informed star WR Tee Higgins that they are franchising him.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 24, 2024
The franchise tag number is expected to be around $21.8 million, fully guaranteed, to keep the Cincinnati Bengals’ receiver in the fold for one more season.
Obviously, this is sort of a short-term solution to a long-term problem. While the tag will keep Higgins in Cincinnati for another season, barring a trade, it does not secure his long-term future in Cincinnati.
The Bengals are still facing a situation where they will have to see whether or not they can afford the contract of Higgins in addition to some of the other star players in need of contract extensions, like fellow wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase.
But for now, Higgins will be staying with the team.
