The Cincinnati Bengals are aiming to lock down three key players this offseason, hoping to secure wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, as well as defensive end Trey Hendrickson, to long-term deals, sources told ESPN.
Whether the Bengals can finalize all three contracts remains uncertain, but their intention is clear — they are going to try. The first step in that effort appears to be Higgins, who is set to hit free agency on March 12.
Bengals Face Uncertain Future With Multiple Key Stars
A team source believes the Bengals will use the franchise tag on Higgins if no long-term deal is reached before the March 4 deadline, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. “In order to have time to get a deal done. Can’t let him walk,” the source said.
League sources have confirmed that Cincinnati plans to place the non-exclusive franchise tag on Higgins for the second consecutive season, according to James Rapien of “Locked On Bengals.” The team intends to apply the tag when the window officially opens on Tuesday, Feb. 18, at 4 p.m. ET.
Higgins has been a reliable target since being drafted in 2020. Over five seasons, he has accumulated 4,595 receiving yards, ranking 18th in that span. His 65.6 yards per game place him 26th, though he has largely played as the No. 2 option behind Chase.
Should Higgins reach free agency, he would be one of the most sought-after players on the market. PFSN’s Top 100 NFL Free Agent Rankings list him as the No. 1 available free agent.
Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow has also weighed in, signaling his desire for the team to retain its core talent. Appearing on FS1’s “Breakfast Ball,” Burrow was asked if he trusted the Bengals’ front office to spend what it takes to keep their top players.
The easiest way to ensure Tee Higgins remains with the #Bengals. A placeholder, but a key one. https://t.co/GYxnqIFSPC
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 17, 2025
“I do. We have the cap space to get it done,” Burrow said. “I know I want to make it happen. Everybody involved — Trey, Tee, Ja’Marr, [tight end] Mike [Gesicki] — we all want to stay together. When you have guys that are motivated like that, I think you can get those kinds of things done.”
Burrow also said he would be open to restructuring his contract to facilitate the team’s retention efforts. When asked if he would consider a renegotiation to accommodate his teammates’ extensions, he responded simply: “Of course.”
The Bengals are projected to have upwards of $50 million in cap space this offseason, which ranks 11th in the league. Burrow indicated that it should be enough for the team to retain Higgins and Gesicki. However, the numbers start getting a little fuzzy if you start to factor in market-setting extensions for Chase and Hendrickson.
Key decisions are looming in Cincinnati, and the Bengals’ offseason could be defined by its ability to retain stars while managing the salary cap.