Tee Higgins, Bengals Don't Reach New Contract; WR to Play 2024 NFL Season on Tag

The Cincinnati Bengals and wide receiver Tee Higgins failed to reach a long-term deal before Monday's 4 p.m. ET deadline, meaning he will play the 2024-25 season on a one-year franchise tag, per ESPN's Ben Baby.

Higgins will earn $21.8 million this season from his franchise tender.

Higgins won't be able to sign an extension with the Bengals until after the regular-season finale. Following the end of the season, Higgins will have the opportunity to try to land a new deal in Cincinnati or explore free agency, though the team could also opt to use the franchise tag for the second straight year.

Since the Bengals placed a franchise tag on Higgins in February, the wide receiver has given mixed signals about his intentions. Just a few weeks after he was given a franchise tag, he reportedly requested a trade, per ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Just a month later, though, Higgins said he anticipated playing for the Bengals in 2024 and that he was "looking forward to it." In June, he officially signed the franchise tag tender.

While Higgins didn't receive the long-term deal he was searching for this offseason, he has a chance to prove himself worthy of one with a strong season this year. He took a step back in 2023 after back-to-back seasons with 1,000+ receiving yards, recording just 656 yards and five touchdowns—both career lows—as he was limited to 12 games because of injuries.

At 25 years old, he's more than capable of getting back on track in what has been a strong start to his NFL career.

Higgins will also look to help the Bengals bounce back after a disappointing 9-8 season a year ago, a season that saw quarterback Joe Burrow limited to just 10 games due to a wrist injury. Cincinnati is just two years removed from a Super Bowl appearance and brings back much of the same roster in 2024.

With Higgins playing alongside star receiver Ja'Marr Chase and catching passes from Burrow, the Bengals should find themselves back in the postseason mix if they can avoid injuries.