Superstar wide receiver Tee Higgins will not meet free agency later this month, as Cincinnati Bengals has placed the franchise company on him again.
Higgins was franchise-labeled and was also blocked from free agency last season and held the former Clemson receiver in Cincinnati for what could be a final season.
While the franchise company buys Bengal’s time to develop a long-term business with Higgins, the back-to-back use seems to have upset the talented width.
“Tag,” he published on on Monday, just before the news became public.
This news was expected to sink before the NFL’s Franchise tag window closes later this week. The tag makes Higgins a top-five receiver on average for the 2025-26 season but does not provide the financial security that players are fighting so hard for.
When the news surrounding a likely franchise label was first reported a few weeks ago, Higin’s mother, who is a major consequence, took to social media in a cryptic post and seemingly called Bengal’s selfish.
So far, Mama Higgins is correct. The Bengals have not been able to shake their reputation as an organization that does not take care of its players financially. While they got Joe Burrow to the highest paid quarter hill in NFL history, Mike Brown’s ownership group did not have much of an alternative. Losing burrow or causing an ugly posture situation may have jeopardized Bengal’s future in Cincinnati.
Another part of this ongoing broad recipient negotiation is the fact that the Bengals have an even better alternative than Higgins – Ja’marr Chase. According to reports Monday afternoon, the Bengals have extended an offer to I, but the pages remain remote from reaching a long -term agreement.
Chase was a part-time participant in Bengals’ Offseason program last season, which made it clear that he wanted to get paid. After Justin Jefferson got a monster four -year agreement worth $ 140 million with $ 110 million completely guaranteed, there is no doubt that Chase will restore the market without quarter.
According to Athletic’s Diana Russini, Chase has been a priority. And he should be. While Cincinnati could technically play hardball with him just like they do with Higgins, it may not be smart to upset two of the most talented recipients in the game.
The Bengals cannot afford to fumble what is ahead of them. If they do, the burrow extension was everything for nothing in the first place.
