Bengals announce Tee Higgins has been franchise tagged for 2nd season in a row

What was expected successful Cincinnati with wide receiver Tee Higgins is official. 

The Bengals placed the franchise tag connected Higgins for the 2nd twelvemonth successful a row, arsenic the wide receiver confirmed as overmuch connected X erstwhile helium posted "tag."

Then, Cincinnati announced the determination themselves, proclaiming their "intent of continuing to enactment toward a semipermanent deal" with the seasoned pass-catcher. 

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Currently, Higgins would beryllium paid $26.2 cardinal for the 2025 play if they are not capable to scope a semipermanent pact, which they didn’t past offseason. There is simply a July 15 deadline to get the woody done, oregon Higgins volition person to play connected his tag. 

However, the Bengals are optimistic they tin get thing done with a subordinate who has had teammates, including backmost Joe Burrow and fellow receiver Ja’Marr Chase, impulse that helium stay successful Cincinnati. 

Burrow adjacent said he’d beryllium "disappointed" if Higgins went elsewhere. 

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There is simply a question, though, astir Chase’s semipermanent contract, arsenic helium could precise good go the highest-paid non-quarterback successful the league. In fact, GM Duke Tobin said truthful during his league with reporters astatine the NFL Scouting Combine this past week. 

So, wherever does that permission Higgins? Time volition archer if the Bengals tin fig that retired with the NFL’s starring sack antheral from 2024, Trey Hendrickson, besides owed to beryllium a escaped cause this offseason. 

Even with Chase playing a larger relation for the Bengals, Higgins’ accumulation has been immoderate of the champion successful the league for wide receivers, collecting 2 1,000-yard seasons successful 2021 and 2022, portion notching 73 receptions for 911 yards and 10 touchdowns, a career-high, this past season. And helium did truthful successful conscionable 12 games. 

The Bengals were incapable to marque the postseason, though, contempt Burrow starring the league successful passing yards and passing touchdowns. 

Higgins whitethorn beryllium 1 of the champion receivers retired there, but the Bengals person been incapable to springiness him the woody he’s wanted since the 2023 offseason erstwhile it was archetypal brought up. He was tagged successful 2024, and ended up playing connected it contempt immoderate contentious reports astir negotiations. 

Higgins has a caller cause this offseason, and it conscionable truthful happens to beryllium the aforesaid arsenic Chase. 

He was expected to beryllium 1 of the astir sought-after escaped agents this offseason, but the Bengals privation to springiness themselves clip to get the deed done with Higgins this clip around. 

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