After signing superstar quarterback to a monster contract totaling $275 million, the Cincinnati Bengals are finally feeling a little bit of the squeeze put on by the league’s salary cap. Each of the past two seasons, this legitimate AFC contender lost their best defensive player including All-Pro safety Jessie Bates III in 2023 and now talented nose tackle D.J. Reader in 2024. Unfortunately for this up-and-coming franchise, the squeeze hasn’t even reached a critical point yet and harder times could be coming sooner than expected.
Cincinnati Bengals Wide Receiver Signs Franchise Tag But Fans Should Tamper Expectations
While a team under salary cap restraints very rarely can celebrate positive news, Cincinnati claimed a big win when superstar receiver Tee Higgins finally signed his franchise tag tender. It had certainly been a tumultuous offseason up to that point with Higgins generating some serious drama and practically begging the team for a legitimate extension. While the team may have locked down the Clemson product for one more season, these two parties don’t seem any closer to a compromise than they did at the start of the offseason.
Higgins has been a dominant force for the Bengals during his tenure in a short career that has included 257 catches for 3,684 receiving yards and 24 touchdowns. Higgins has grown into one of the best target men in the NFL and is an excellent goal line target for Burrow as he prepares to make a push for an MVP campaign.
The two sides appear unlikely to compromise with over $7 million per season reportedly separating the two parties. Higgins reportedly wants a contract that is comparable to the one that Indianapolis Colts receiver Michael Pittman signed earlier in the offseason that equates to approximately $24 million per season. Cincinnati Director of Player Personnel Duke Tobin is reportedly only interested in bringing back the standout receiver for approximately $17 million per season. While that may seem like a relatively small amount, Higgins is requesting over 50% more than what Cincinnati is willing to pay at the moment.
There has been some discussion amongst experts that Higgins could draw a second franchise tag tender next season but given the rules dictating that consecutive franchise tags must include a minimum 20% pay raise, that would pay Higgins over $25 million dollars in 2025. For a team that will be in the thralls of contract negotiations with its other elite receiver Ja’Marr Chase, that will likely be far too much money to even open negotiations on.
While he may be a fan favorite with chants of ‘Tee’ ringing through the stadium every time he touches the ball, the Cincinnati faithful might have to accept the fact that this upcoming season will be Higgins’ last wearing the orange and black.
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