Bengals To Use Franchise Tag On Tee Higgins

The Bengals seem to have a plan when it comes to wide receiver Tee Higgins. Tag him again. But the move to use the franchise tag on Tee Higgins does make sense. At least a little. If the Bengals plan to use the franchise tag on Tee Higgins, it would allow the team to have some measure of control until they can work out a plan of attack whether to get a deal done or trade him.

The Bengals do have a lot on their plate when it comes to contracts. The Bengals rank 12th in salary cap space at just over $49 million heading into the 2025 offseason. They also have to figure out how to pay both Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase, the latter who’s expected to make serious bank in his next deal after not getting a contract extension last season.

Franchise Tag Fallout

Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow has expressed, on more than one occasion, that he would like the Bengals front office to get Tee Higgins under contract. Burrow also noted that other franchises, like the Philadelphia Eagles, paid their wide receivers A.J. Brown and Devonta Smith.

Tagging Higgins with the intent of extending him would be a step in the right direction. The Bengals do have a deadline to deal with, as they would have to reach an agreement with the wide receiver by the March 4th deadline. If they can’t reach a deal by the deadline, the franchise tag will be used.

Another thing the Bengals will have to contend with is the price tag the franchise tag would cost this time around. According to Spotrac.com, tagging Higgins a second time would count $26 million against the salary cap in 2025. Extending Higgins should be a priority to keep that money from tying up other moves.

What if the Bengals have other plans?

The other choice would be to sign Tee Higgins to the franchise tag and then trade him for draft picks. This would allow the Bengals to recoup some value and draft picks to help further build up the team while removing a bigger contractual obstacle off the books. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing either.

Other reports have surfaced highlighting the use of the “non-exclusive franchise tag” being used on Higgins. That means that while Higgins can get offers from other teams, the other party will have to pay by giving up two first-round picks to get him. Just another way the Bengals can have control while they (hopefully) work out a new contract.

The added draft picks would help the Bengals fix up their offensive line, a unit that has struggled over the last few seasons, and allow Joe Burrow to be more upright and protected. Burrow was sacked 48 times last season, the fourth-most sacked quarterback among starting quarterbacks around the NFL. Burrow has also missed time due to injuries so addressing the offensive line is a good course of action.

Tee Higgins has shown the ability to be a number-one receiving option in the past. When Ja”Marr Chase missed time during the 2022 season, Higgins went to work. From weeks 8-12, Higgins accounted for 36 targets, 26 receptions, 371 yards, and two touchdowns. When healthy, Higgins has been a thousand-yard receiver, posting back-to-back seasons over 1,000 yards in 2021 and 2022. Higgins averages nearly 14 yards per reception in his career heading into 2025, and at his 6’4″., 220 lb frame, he’s been a big target for Joe Burrow all over the field.

Whatever course this whole thing takes, we at least have until March to find out what turn it will take. For now, Tee Higgins is still a Bengal.

Discover more from The Fantasy's Phinest | A Fantasy Football Website

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.