Tee Higgins Rumors: Bengals Focused on Long-Term Contract Amid Franchise-Tag Buzz

Amid rumors that the Cincinnati Bengals plan to use a franchise tag on star receiver Tee Higgins, another report indicated the team would rather secure him to a long-term deal.

Per NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, "the Bengals are focused on" signing the 26-year-old to a long-term deal and "hope a franchise tag won't be needed." However, if Higgins and Cincinnati aren't in agreement on a deal by the March 4 deadline, "the Bengals are considered likely to" use a franchise tag on Higgins for a second consecutive year.

A source also told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler that the Bengals will use the franchise tag on Higgins if a long-term deal isn't reached "in order to have time to get a deal done. Can't let him walk."

While franchise-tagging the Clemson product would secure him for one more season, the Bengals could still give him an extension before the start of the year. The franchise tag wouldn't become permanent until July 15, meaning Cincinnati would have until then to give him a long-term contract.

Higgins and the Bengals had a summer of disagreements last year. After not receiving an extension and instead being franchise-tagged, he missed some of Cincinnati's mandatory minicamp, but he signed the franchise tag in July, clearing the way for him to attend training camp.

It's unclear whether Higgins would take issue with the franchise tag this time around.

Higgins has been a consistent complement to star receiver Ja'Marr Chase and the Bengals offense. He has twice recorded seasons with 1,000 or more receiving yards and is coming off a year in which he had 911 yards and 10 touchdowns in just 12 games.

He was part of an offense that led the NFL in passing yards per game at 272.9 and had the sixth-most points per game last year. Chase recorded the wide receiver triple crown, leading the league in receiving yards, receptions and touchdowns. It's fair to say part of his success comes from the fact that Higgins plays opposite to him, giving defenses another threat to worry about.

The only fault for Higgins has been his ability to stay healthy, as he's missed 10 games over the past two years.

Still, Higgins is one of the best receivers on the free-agency market this year. Using a franchise tag on him would give the Bengals the chance to continue contract negotiations with him without having to worry about another team signing him.