The Cincinnati Bengals have signed wide receiver Tee Higgins to his franchise tag, the team announced on Monday. It is not a new deal, but after Higgins sat out of the offseason program to this point, holding out for a new deal, it appears he is set to play under the tag. The issue for Higgins remains that he is not the only Bengals wide receiver looking for a new deal, as Ja’Marr Chase is also primed to land a massive extension.
The team is already paying quarterback Joe Burrow $55 million per season, while other stars like Trey Hendrickson are also looking for a new deal. Higgins and Chase’s negotiations have only become muddier with contracts like those of Justin Jefferson, A.J. Brown, and others, inking deals that could push both into the $30 million territory. But it seems likelier they will prioritize Chase over Higgins, who is the perceived top wide receiver on the team.
Tee Higgins has shined in Cincinnati since they grabbed him out of Clemson, but some injuries have hurt his availability over his tenure. Still, when he is on the field, Higgins remains one of the best wide receivers in the AFC North and a deadly complement to Chase on the other side.