Tee Higgins will return to Cincinnati next season as Bengals use $21.8m, fully guaranteed franchise tag to lock down one of Joe Burrow’s top targets

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins returns for the 2024 NFL season.

On Friday, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported that the Bengals plan to use their franchise tag on the 25-year-old. Rapoport added that Higgins’ franchise tag number is expected to be approximately $21.8 million, fully guaranteed.

The deadline for Cincinnati to sign him to a long-term deal is March 5, with Higgins becoming the first franchise tag player this offseason.

Despite dealing with a broken rib, hamstring and ankle injuries last season, Higgins proved to be a reliable target for Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow. Cincinnati’s offense began to build around them and three-time Pro Bowler Ja’Marr Chase played parallel to Higgins.

The Bengals signed Higgins from Clemson in 2020 and he is now entering his fifth season in Cincinnati. In 12 appearances this past season, Higgins racked up 42 receptions for 656 yards and five touchdowns.

Higgins proved to be a reliable target for quarterback Joe Burrow alongside Ja’Marr Chase

Higgins had 42 receptions for 656 yards and five touchdowns in 12 games last season

Higgins was part of the Bengals’ historic 2021 season as the team won its first inaugural AFC title since 2015 by defeating the Kansas City Chiefs. Despite coming up short against the Los Angeles Rams in the Super Bowl, the young core of Burrow, Chase, Higgins and Joe Mixon was on full display during their run.

Although the Bengals missed the playoffs in the 2023 season, their 9-8 record still gave head coach Zac Taylor his third straight year above .500. He and the team did this despite injuries to key players in the attack.

Burrow was ruled out in November due to a torn ligament in his right wrist. With their franchise quarterback sidelined, Jake Browning finished out the remainder of the season, going 4–3 as a starter.

With Browning facilitating the offense, Higgins recorded a season-high 140 receiving yards against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 16.

Shortly after their season ended, Bengals director of player personnel Duke Tobin expressed his interest in bringing back Higgins in 2024. With his franchise tag, Cincinnati’s young core will remain intact for at least one more season.

“We’ll see what happens this year,” Tobin said in January. “I want Tee Higgins back. Everyone on our team wants Tee Higgins back. Again, there is one pie and how big that piece is and what else we can’t do because of that, we’ll have to determine and we’ll see.”