League sources have confirmed that the Cincinnati Bengals plan to give wide receiver Tee Higgins the non-exclusive franchise tag for a second straight season. According to James Rapien, host of Locked on Bengals, the Bengals plan to use the non-exclusive franchise tag on the star wide receiver when the tag window officially opens on Tuesday, Feb. 18, at 4 p.m. ET.
Higgins has put together a solid career since joining the Bengals in 2020. Over the last five years, he has 4,595 receiving yards, which ranks 18th in that time. While his 65.6 yards per game only rank 26th, he has effectively played four of those seasons as the No. 2 option to Ja’Marr Chase.
If he made it to free agency, he would be the top free agent. According to PFSN’s Top 100 Free Agency Rankings, Higgins is the No. 1-ranked free agent.
How Can Bengals Still Negotiate Long-Term Deal With Tee Higgins?
Last year, the Bengals tagged Higgins, and there wasn’t much dialogue about a long-term contract. He was the only player tagged by his team last year who didn’t sign a multi-year extension — this year feels different. Sources say the Bengals plan to sign the star receiver to a long-term deal.
Higgins changed agents in December, moving on from David Mulugheta. He signed with Rocky Arceneaux and Caitlin Aoki of Alliance Sports, and their goal is to lock down Higgins for a long-term extension.
Sources: The Bengals' plan to use the franchise tag on Tee Higgins. Here's what it means for a long-term deal, when it could happen and other details that we have on the star wide receiver⬇️https://t.co/TdLrFWc6Bn
— James Rapien (@JamesRapien) February 17, 2025
The two sides can still work on a long-term contract without the tag, but that may not happen before the March 4 deadline. If it doesn’t, Cincinnati plans to use the non-exclusive franchise tag for a second consecutive year. The tag doesn’t mean a team can’t negotiate a long-term deal with Higgins, but it would cost them two first-round picks if the Bengals didn’t match the contract.
Higgins received the franchise tag in 2024 at $21.8 million and would be entitled by rule to a 20% raise in 2025. That’s a one-year, fully guaranteed salary of over $26.18 million based on 2024 numbers. Tagging him would buy the Bengals some time. The Bengals have until July 15 to reach a long-term deal, which could be a valuable time for them to work on the next moves for Chase and Hendrickson.
Throughout his time in the NFL, Higgins ranks 10th in the position in success rate (59.8%) and 13th in terms of touchdowns. The 2024 season was Higgins’ best in touchdowns (10) despite only playing in 12 games. His drop rate this season was also a career-low at 2.8%, while quarterback Joe Burrow had a 119.5 passer rating when targeting him.
The numbers have to work, but the Bengals and Higgins hope to reach a long-term agreement that will keep him in Cincinnati for many years.