Bengals make correct decision by franchise-tagging WR Tee Higgins

Placing the franchise tag on Higgins would result in a one-year contract worth $26.2 million fully guaranteed.

The franchise tag window runs from Feb. 18 through March 4, during which the Bengals and Higgins will negotiate contract details.

Last offseason, the Bengals tagged Higgins, who was seeking a multiyear extension. The former Clemson receiver then requested a trade before signing the franchise tag.

Things can play out similarly, as Higgins played well enough to earn a lucrative contract, securing 73 catches for 911 yards and 10 touchdowns in 12 games in 2024.

However, with Ja’Marr Chase in line for a new deal that would most likely make him the league’s highest-paid wideout, there would be no room left for Higgins, who could command up to $30 million annually on the open market.

Quarterback Joe Burrow has made it clear throughout the offseason that he wants the team to retain its star players, including Higgins. Placing the franchise tag on the former 2020 second-round pick is the right decision if the two sides fail to agree.

First, it extends the negotiating period for both parties.

When a team places a franchise tag on a player, it has until mid-July to negotiate and sign a long-term contract with that player; if no deal is reached by that deadline, the player will play on a one-year contract based on the franchise tag value.

Even if a contract does not materialize in the next couple of weeks, each side can continue to work out a contract with more time afforded.

Second, and perhaps most importantly from Cincinnati’s perspective, the Bengals could now receive something in return for Higgins.

With Higgins garnering so much attention on the free-agent market, there could be a tag-and-trade scenario where Cincinnati could get at least a second-round pick.

It is a better proposition than simply letting Higgins walk out the door with no compensation in return, although Higgins must agree to a contract with another team before finalizing the trade.

In a sense, Higgins holds all the cards in this hypothetical scenario, with complete control over where his next destination is. No team will trade a premium pick for a player unwilling to sign a long-term deal.

No matter what transpires, the franchise tag opens up many avenues for the Bengals in this particular situation. Losing a receiver of this caliber would be detrimental in the short term, but the long-term plan could be maintained by not losing Higgins for essentially nothing in free agency.