Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins is one of the best players set to hit free agency, and recent reports indicate that the team will use the franchise tag to keep him from reaching the open market. The 2023 season was a relatively disappointing one for Higgins, as the former second-round pick battled through injury and spent a decent chunk of the season catching passes from backup quarterback Jake Browning. However, despite this relative drop in his perceived value, it sounds like the Bengals still want to keep him around for the long haul.
This report is courtesy of Paul Dehner of The Athletic, who notes that the Bengals have the financial ability to use the franchise tag on Tee Higgins. Assuming Higgins signs the tag, he would carry a projected $20.7 million cap hit. While this is a lot for any non-quarterback, the Bengals can afford to do this in the short term, as Ja’Marr Chase is still on his rookie deal and Joe Burrow’s cap hit is manageable in 2024.
Cincinnati Bengals Expected to Use Franchise Tag on Tee Higgins (Report)
It should go without saying that the Cincinnati Bengals do not want to use the franchise tag on Tee Higgins. In a perfect world, the two will agree to a long-term deal before the start of free agency. However, contract negotiations are never straightforward in the NFL, and Higgins is going to want to get paid like a superstar.
The big question is whether the Bengals can afford to make an offer like that. Higgins is a great player, but he’s no Ja’Marr Chase. Once Chase gets his money and Burrow’s cap number explodes, the Bengals are going to need to be smart about how they spend their remaining limited resources. The Bengals can use the franchise tag as a negotiating tool with Tee Higgins, but this is nothing more than a band-aid fix.
If Tee Higgins receives the franchise tag, he could hold out until he gets a long-term contract. If this happens and the two sides don’t make progress on a deal, the Bengals will have to think about trading him. There are not enough good receivers to go around in today’s pass-happy NFL, and these five teams could easily give up a valuable asset for the rights to Higgins.
Possible Trade Destinations
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers desperately need to get some help for Bryce Young. The Alabama product had a rookie season to forget, finishing at or near the bottom of just about every passing statistic. Ultimately, Young was put in an impossible situation, as no young quarterback could succeed with a bad offensive line and an over-30 Adam Thielen as the only reliable target. Tee Higgins would be a godsend for Young, and Carolina should be constantly working the phones for a trade if the wideout doesn’t sign the franchise tag.
New York Giants
The New York Giants are stuck with Daniel Jones for at least one more season, so they might as well try and make the most of it. Jones can succeed in the right environment, but he needs more support than he currently has. Tee Higgins would easily be the best wide receiver on this depth chart, and the Giants should be more than willing to hand out an extension so he won’t have to play on the franchise tag.
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears saw just how much D.J. Moore helped Justin Fields. Now, with Caleb Williams likely taking over, they have a chance to give their next franchise quarterback one of the best wide receiver duos in football. With over $49 million in cap space and the clock reset on their quarterback’s rookie contract, the Bears should have no trouble paying Tee Higgins and ensuring he doesn’t have to play on the franchise tag.
New Orleans Saints
Objectively speaking, the New Orleans Saints should not trade for Tee Higgins while he’s on the franchise tag. However, Dennis Allen and Derek Carr will lose their respective jobs if the team can’t make the postseason in 2024, so the Saints could once again push all their chips to the center of the table. Carr is the type of quarterback who is only as good as his surroundings, and the wide receiver duo of Higgins and Chris Olave should give him all the firepower he needs to guide this team to a division crown.
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots will trade Mac Jones and start over from scratch on offense. However, if this team can’t find a reliable wide receiver, then their next quarterback will struggle to succeed. Demario Douglas showed some promise as a rookie, but he’s no Tee Higgins. Bill Belichick never placed too much value on the wide receiver position, but perhaps Jerod Mayo has a different viewpoint.
Main Photo: Sam Greene – USA Today Sports
