Despite the uncertainties surrounding Tee Higgins‘ future in Cincinnati, the wide receiver is now officially locked in for the 2024 season after signing his franchise tender, as reported by Kelsey Conway of Cincinnati.com.
Now that Higgins is officially under contract for the 2024 season, he is expected to be present at Bengals training camp. Having missed Bengals OTAs due to his contract situation, Higgins will now be tied to the $21.8MM WR franchise tag value for the 2024 season before potentially facing free agency or another franchise tag situation next year.
Although Higgins is open to a long-term deal with the Bengals (Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports), an extension remains unlikely (Adam Schefter of ESPN states). Negotiations between the Bengals and Higgins have stalled, with the team not approaching the $20MM per year mark in their last talks. The deadline for an extension is July 15, but it seems unlikely based on the organization’s history.
With other receivers like Justin Jefferson, Amon-Ra St. Brown, and A.J. Brown resetting the market at over $30MM annually, Higgins is looking to be among the top-paid players in his position. However, the Bengals’ financial constraints due to Burrow’s contract and Chase’s forthcoming extension make it difficult to retain Higgins long-term. The Bengals are expected to view Higgins as a short-term solution for the 2024 season, with a separation likely after the year.
Both Higgins and the Bengals can now breathe a sigh of relief that the immediate drama has been averted. The issues began in March when Higgins initially requested a trade. Despite the rocky start, it appears that he will stay with Cincinnati for the 2024 season after signing the franchise tender.
Although Higgins hasn’t reached the same level of production as Chase, he has been a consistent contributor as the Bengals’ second option. With over 1,000 yards per season in his first three years, Higgins is looking to bounce back in 2024 after a season marred by injuries. With career-lows in receptions, yards, and touchdowns in 2023, Higgins will aim for a strong performance before hitting free agency next offseason.