The Bengals have placed a franchise tag on wide receiver Tee Higgins, which means he is currently not under contract with the team. Despite this, Higgins has expressed his desire for a long-term deal and has reportedly requested a trade. However, during an appearance on the I Am Athlete podcast, Higgins stated that he would like to continue playing for the Bengals, citing personal and professional growth during his time with the team.
On Wednesday’s podcast episode, Higgins spoke about his positive experiences in Cincinnati, including friendships and relationships with fans. While he is clear about his desire to remain with the Bengals, their history of not signing franchise-tagged players to long-term contracts poses a challenge. Typically, players under the franchise tag play for one year before the tag is not applied again.
With the ability to skip offseason activities and training camp without consequence, Higgins can show up just before the regular season starts and still receive his full franchise tender amount. However, there is a risk that the Bengals could rescind the offer, making him a free agent after the season begins. This scenario is unlikely but not impossible.
Some believe that Higgins should show up and prepare for a standout season in what could be a contract year, while others argue that his performance over the past four seasons warrants a significant contract regardless of his free agency status in 2025. Ultimately, Higgins will need to decide whether to show up and receive his franchise tender or hold out if the Bengals do not offer a satisfactory long-term contract by July 15th’s deadline.
