Tee Higgins: Bengals' Big Decision

The Bengals have made a big decision about their wide receiver, Tee Higgins. They are planning to use the franchise tag on him. This means they will keep him on their team for at least one more year. The franchise tag window opens on Tuesday and will run until March 4th. This gives the Bengals time to work out a long-term deal with Higgins before the deadline. The Bengals are expected to use a non-exclusive tag on Higgins. This tag is worth about $26 million. Even if a long-term deal isn’t reached, Higgins will still get a big payday. Both sides are expected to continue working on a long-term extension, with a deadline of July 15th.The non-exclusive tag allows Higgins to negotiate with other teams once free agency begins on March 10th. The Bengals would have five days to match any offers and keep Higgins. If they choose not to match, the team that signs Higgins would have to give the Bengals two first-round picks. If the tag is used, Higgins is almost certain to remain a Bengal in 2025, unless the Bengals are willing to trade him for a smaller package. The Bengals might want at least a late first-round NFL Draft pick for him, but they may settle for an early second-round pick. This situation raises questions about the Bengals' long-term plans for their wide receiver. Will they keep Higgins for the long haul, or will they use this opportunity to trade him for valuable draft picks? Only time will tell what the Bengals will do next.