Tee Higgins and Cincinnati Bengals Unable to Finalize Long-Term Agreement
Tee Higgins and the Cincinnati Bengals have not managed to secure a long-term extension before the NFL's crucial July 15 deadline for franchise-tagged players. As a result, the wide receiver is set to play the 2024 season under the franchise tag.
This outcome places Higgins among an exclusive group; he is the only player among the league's eight franchise-tagged individuals this offseason who did not broker a new contract. Despite this, Higgins will still earn a solid paycheck, having signed his one-year franchise tender on June 15, 2024, guaranteeing him $21.816 million for the upcoming season.
The path leading to this juncture has been fraught with tension and missed opportunities. Higgins, who notably did not attend the Bengals' mandatory minicamp in a bid for a lucrative extension, found himself tagged by the team in late February 2024. With the franchise tag limiting his leverage, Higgins subsequently requested a trade, hoping to find a better financial situation elsewhere. However, the Bengals opted not to grant this request, doubling down on their commitment to retain the star receiver.
On the Bengals' end, the failure to secure a long-term deal with Higgins mirrors past experiences with other key players such as Jessie Bates III and Jonah Williams. Bates played out his tagged season before leaving in free agency, while Williams remained with the team through his tagged season and later explored free agency. The Bengals' approach appears to foster a short-term certainty while leaving the door open for future uncertainties.
Higgins' Production and Impact
Despite the contractual impasse, Higgins has consistently proven his worth during his time with the Bengals. Drafted in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft out of Clemson, he has surpassed 1,000 yards receiving twice in his four seasons with the team. Even in a most recent season truncated by a hamstring injury, Higgins managed to accumulate 656 yards and five touchdowns on 42 receptions over 12 games. These numbers underscore his talent and importance to the Bengals' offensive scheme.
Anticipating the 2024 Season
Given these developments, Bengals head coach Zac Taylor remains optimistic about Higgins' participation in the upcoming season. "I'm excited to move forward with Tee. He's done a great job handling his situation, and we are happy to get him back in the fold so we can start working toward a great 2024 season. The locker room will be excited to have him back around," Taylor stated, signaling confidence in Higgins' ability to block out the contract noise and perform on the field.
While the long-term future remains uncertain, Higgins has the opportunity to bolster his value with another standout season in 2024. The Bengals, on their part, will benefit from his proven playmaking abilities as they aim for postseason success. Both player and team find themselves in a delicate equilibrium, one that could swing in numerous directions depending on their performance over the upcoming NFL season.