With over $59 million in cap space and quarterback Joe Burrow already under contract on a long-term deal, the Cincinnati Bengals can do a lot of things to keep their top free agents from leaving. One big-name free agent appears to be in play for the franchise tag.
According to Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic, the Bengals are “at a crossroads” with star wide receiver Tee Higgins that could result in the team placing the franchise tag on him. Such a move would result in a $20.7 million tag placement on their No. 2 receiver.
Higgins is one of 20 players on the Bengals that are out of contract heading into the offseason. But he isn’t the only big-name guy that they need to figure out what to do with.
Third-string wideout Tyler Boyd, starting offensive tackle Jonah Williams, tight ends Tanner Hudson, Irv Smith and Drew Sample, and backup quarterback Jake Browning are just a few of the players they have to re-sign or let go in the weeks to come.
Cincinnati won’t have a lot of time to make their franchise tag decision on Higgins either. The deadline is March 5.
Higgins is certainly a player worth keeping. He had 42 receptions for 656 yards and five touchdowns in just 12 games this season – the second-most yards per game on the team.
Prior to this year, Higgins had three straight seasons of over 900 receiving yards and back-to-back years with over 1,000 yards.
But will the Bengals really stump up that much money for the second-best receiver on the team after Ja’Marr Chase?
We’ll find out for sure within about three weeks.