Decision Made On Tee Higgins' Future With Cincinnati Bengals

The Cincinnati Bengals are reportedly expected to once again franchise tag wide receiver Tee Higgins, sources with knowledge of the situation confirmed to Sports Illustrated's James Rapien on Monday (February 17).

The tag window for NFL teams will officially open on Tuesday (February 18) at 4:00 p.m. ET and last until 4:00 p.m. ET on March 4. Higgins, 26, who was also tagged last offseason, reportedly expects to get tagged again, which will stop him from hitting the free agent market as one of the top targets at his position.

The two sides had less dialogue on a long-term contract last offseason and Higgins was the only player to be tagged that didn't ultimately receive a multi-year extension prior to the season. Higgins has since changed agents, signing with Rocky Arceneaux and Caitlin Aoki of Alliance Sports, which play a vital role in potential negotiations.

Quarterback Joe Burrow, who signed a massive extension in 2024, publicly stated his intention to have Higgins return in 2025.

“Tee is a need, yes,” Burrow said in December via Sports Illustrated. "Those discussions are ongoing and I'm confident that I think we're gonna be able to do what it takes to bring Tee back."

The Bengals are also in the final year of primary wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase's rookie deal and Burrow has stated his willingness to restructure his contract to keep his top two targets.

"We have the cap space to get it done," Burrow said when asked about keeping both receivers during an appearance on FS1's Breakfast Ball earlier this month. "[Defensive end] Trey Hendrickson, Tee, Ja'Marr and [tight end] Mike Gesicki -- we all want to play football together."