NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – JANUARY 22: Tee Higgins #85 of the Cincinnati Bengals celebrates after the win against the Tennessee Titans during the AFC Divisional Playoff at Nissan Stadium on January 22, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)


One player on the Cincinnati Bengals was either hoping for a huge new deal or a team to provide him with one in free agency, but it looks like neither one of those options will happen.

Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins could become a free agent when the new league year starts in March, but the team has two ways to keep that from happening.

 

They could’ve signed him to a long-term deal or they could use a franchise tag to keep him from hitting the open market. On Tuesday, it was announced that the team would be hitting him with the franchise tag which will extend the time to negotiate a new deal until mid-July.

If they cannot get a deal before that point, Higgins would have the choice of sitting out or playing the 2024 season with a guaranteed salary that is projected to be $20.7 million.

While the Bengals have flexibility with their cap situation to carry Higgins on the tag in 2024, keeping him, QB Joe Burrow, and WR Ja’Marr Chase on long-term deals beyond that could prove to be quite challenging.

Higgins only played in 12 games in 2023 but still amassed 656 yards and five touchdowns.

He surpassed 1,000 yards in 2021 and 2022, helping lead the Bengals to division titles in both years.