The Cincinnati Bengals reportedly have answered one of the biggest questions of their offseason.
Cincinnati placed the franchise tag on star receiver Tee Higgins for the 2024 season, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Friday. Per Rapoport, the franchise tag is expected to be around $21.8 million for Higgins and fully guaranteed.
Source: The #Bengals informed star WR Tee Higgins that they are franchising him.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 24, 2024
Higgins is the first player to be franchise tagged during the NFL’s two-week window, which opened Feb. 20. NFL teams have until March 5 to tag one player on their roster who otherwise would become an unrestricted free agent.
Higgins, the first pick of the second round (No. 33) of the 2020 NFL draft, was set to become a free agent in March.
The Clemson product logged 42 receptions for 656 yards and five touchdowns across 12 games in 2023. Across four seasons, Higgins registered 257 catches for 3,684 yards and 24 touchdowns while notching two 1,000-yard campaigns in 2021 and ‘22.
Cincinnati will run it back with its star-studded duo at wide receiver in Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase, who was vocal about his desire for the Bengals to bring his teammate back.
"That's my wingman," Chase said about Higgins on the Up & Adams Show earlier this month. “I love playing with this guy. He makes me better in every aspect of my game and vice versa."
Higgins would have been one of the most sought-after receivers on the open market if he became an unrestricted free agent. Mike Evans, Michael Pittman Jr., Marquise Brown and Calvin Ridley remain the biggest names among receivers that will be available in free agency.
