Tee Higgins, a wide receiver, will be named a franchise player by the Bengals.
The team hadn’t made it official yet, so the person talked under anonymity.Ian Rapoport of NFL Media broke the story first on Friday.With this decision, Higgins would remain off the open market until free agency officially kicks off on March 13, the first day of the new league year.
Higgins would be paid $21.8 million the next season if he is not able to sign a long-term contract and is instead placed on the franchise tag. Higgins came in at No. 3 on USA TODAY Sports’ pre-tag breakdown, making him one of the top free agents this offseason.
Since the Bengals took the Clemson product in the second round of the 2020 draft, Higgins, 25, has become one of the NFL’s elite No. 2 receivers. Together with leading target Ja’Marr Chase, he achieved more than 1,000 yards in 2021 and 2022. But he only appeared in 12 games the previous season due to a hamstring ailment that occurred late in the season and a fractured rib.
Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow expressed his desire for Higgins to return in some capacity until at least 2024, after the season ended.
Speaking in January, Burrow stated, “I know Tee wants to be here.” Tee is aware of our desire for him to be here. In that regard, not much can be said. The most anticipated of all is that Tee will return.
“We’ll see. The off-season unfolds in rather bizarre ways. Tee wants to return, and I would really love to have him back.