Bengals receiver Tee Higgins has had a tumultuous offseason as he was unsure if he wanted to stay with the team or not. However, now there is clarity as he has signed his $21.8 million franchise tender, securing his spot on the team for the 2024 season. The offseason program has ended, giving him the opportunity to avoid any fines and pressure to attend OTAs.
The Bengals typically do not offer multi-year deals to their franchise-tagged players, so the July 15 deadline for a multi-year deal is crucial. Higgins could have waited until just before the regular season to sign his tender, but this would have affected his readiness for the season and put him at risk of becoming an unrestricted free agent if the Bengals rescinded the tender.
While Higgins still has the option to be traded and could request a trade, any move must happen within the next 30 days. If a long-term contract with another team close to the market’s top is desired, it will be challenging to land a deal for $21.8 million or more if he were to pursue a trade.
