Tee Higgins, a wide receiver for the Cincinnati Bengals, has not signed his franchise tag tender offer and is not expected to do so by next week. This would make him ineligible to participate in team-organized activities until he signs. The situation arose after Higgins expressed frustration over the team’s decision to use the franchise tag on him at the beginning of the offseason, leading him to request a trade. Despite this, he previously stated that he anticipated playing for the Bengals in 2024, indicating a fondness for the team.
While Higgins has voiced displeasure with the lack of progress on a long-term contract extension since March 2023, he has expressed a love for Cincinnati that he didn’t anticipate having. The wide receiver is set to earn $21.816 million this season under the franchise tag. In his four seasons with the Bengals, Higgins has amassed 403 catches for 3,684 yards and 24 touchdowns. However, injuries limited his performance last season to 12 games, during which he made 42 catches for 656 yards and five touchdowns.
Higgins and the Bengals have until July 15 to negotiate a long-term extension, but as of now, they have not been able to reach an agreement. He is the only player this offseason who was franchise or transition tagged and has not been able to finalize an extension with their team. Initially drafted by the Bengals in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft, Higgins has proven to be a valuable asset in their receiving corps. The ongoing saga between the two sides has left Higgins in a state of uncertainty regarding his future with the team.
The lack of progress on a long-term extension and Higgins’ frustration with the franchise tag situation have raised doubts about his future with the Bengals. Despite expressing a desire to play for Cincinnati in 2024, the unresolved contract situation and the looming deadline for a decision could potentially lead to a different outcome. With his performance on the field and his contributions to the team over the years, Higgins remains a key player for the Bengals, but the current impasse regarding his contract situation has cast a shadow over his future with the team.
As the deadline approaches for Higgins to sign his franchise tag tender offer, the situation remains unresolved. His status for the upcoming season and his long-term future with the Bengals are uncertain, as negotiations for a contract extension have not yielded results thus far. The team and Higgins have until July 15 to reach an agreement, but with the deadline fast approaching and tensions remaining high, the possibility of a trade or other resolution cannot be ruled out. Ultimately, the next few weeks will be critical in determining the path forward for Tee Higgins and his tenure with the Cincinnati Bengals.
