Star wide receiver Tee Higgins appears poised to hit free agency. The Cincinnati Bengals couldn’t work out a contract extension with the former second-round pick before this weekend’s deadline. As a result, Higgins will play the 2024 season in Cincinnati but could be elsewhere after that.
Higgins signed a franchise tag in the offseason worth $21.8 million.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported the news of the breakdown between the two sides.
It has appeared evident for some time, but for clarity:
The #Bengals and star WR Tee Higgins will not do an extension by Monday’s deadline. He’s signed his franchise tag, he’ll play on it, then be one of the top free agents in the 2025 offseason. pic.twitter.com/kO8omw8Gol
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) July 14, 2024
Drafted in 2020 out of Clemson, the 6-foot-4 Higgins missed the first round by a pick, going 33rd overall to the Bengals that season. Higgins was a member of the team’s vaunted 2020 draft class, including franchise quarterback Joe Burrow and Logan Wilson, who signed a long-term extension with the team last year.
The NFL world had much to say about the news on the Cincinnati star, who may not be with the team for much longer.
PSA: I was wrong when saying Tee Higgins would not play on the tag. I gave the Bengals too much credit. Never in a million years did I think they would be dumb enough to let a proven X WR walk in free agency for a compensation pick instead of selling high or extending him 💀
— OhiosHottestWhiteBoy (@WhiteBoyOH) July 14, 2024
According to OTC, only the Cardinals are projected to have more cap space than the #Patriots in 2025
If Drake Maye sees the field and plays well this season… https://t.co/5Ry4cm48TE
— Taylor Kyles (@tkyles39) July 14, 2024
It’s going to be a lot of teams that’s going to go after him. Even some that already have #1 WR’s. Might even be a trade candidate at the deadline. Doesn’t turn 26 until January. https://t.co/Ln4DALEVhb
— Perry (@Perry07595898) July 14, 2024
Seemed pretty obvious this is what they were going to do all along.
Players have no leverage on the tag.
But #HigginsWatch2025 begins https://t.co/yda7kgn4Dy
— TicTacTitans (@TicTacTitans) July 14, 2024
Expect plenty of teams to be in on the talented Higgins when he hits the market. The Washington Commanders or the New England Patriots come to mind, perhaps.
The Bengals were probably always likely to part ways with either Higgins or Ja’Marr Chase.
The aftermath of this decision will likely affect Cincinnati’s short-term future and success.
About Chris Novak
Chris Novak has been talking and writing about sports ever since he can remember. Previously, Novak wrote for and managed sites in the SB Nation network for nearly a decade from 2013-2022