Tee Higgins won’t be signing with the Patriots this offseason.
The Cincinnati Bengals have placed their franchise tag on Higgins, as first reported by NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport. Cincinnati wants to come to a long-term agreement with the star wide receiver and hopes this will be a “place holder,” Rapoport wrote
Higgins seemingly confirmed the report when he took to social media and wrote: “tag.”
Placing the franchise tag on Higgins gives the Bengals until mid-July to come to terms on a long-term deal. If the two parties can’t reach an agreement, Higgins will play on the $26.2 million franchise tag in 2025.
Regardless of whether the two come to terms on a long-term extension, Higgins won’t hit the open market when free agency begins next week.
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The 26-year-old receiver would have been the top free agent available with receiver-needy teams like the Patriots likely to pursue him. Boston Sports Journal’s Mike Giardi as well as the Boston Herald’s Andrew Callahan and Doug Kyed all reported the Patriots would be interested in Higgins if he became available.
It was, however, thought to be unlikely after a report from Cincinnati a few weeks prior.
A second-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, Higgins has played five seasons in CIncy. He recorded two 1,000-yard seasons and likely would have set a new career high if he didn’t miss five games in 2024. Higgins finished with 73 catches for 911 yards and 10 touchdowns last season.
Featured image via Sam Greene/The Enquirer via USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
