The Cincinnati Bengals are reportedly expected to use the franchise tag on pending free agent wide receiver Tee Higgins, per SI.com’s James Rapien.
That would essentially take the star wideout off the table for the New England Patriots. It’s an aggressive move for a Bengals team hoping to keep their explosive receiving weapons around quarterback Joe Burrow.
According to Rapien, Cincinnati is aiming to sign Higgins to a long-term deal. They’d rather agree on a contract before the tag deadline on March 4, but they are prepared to use the franchise tag to lock one of their key offensive playmakers in place and keep him off the free agent market.
The cost for doing so is a guaranteed $26.18 million.
Higgins was viewed as the top pending free agent in the 2025 offseason. He was obviously a target for the receiver-needy Patriots, who likely would have made him one of the highest-paid wideouts in the league.
They’ll now have to shift gears and set their eyes on other options.