(Perry Knotts/Getty Images)
Tee Higgins, wide receiver for the Cincinnati Bengals, has provided clarity on his future with the team during a recent interview at his youth football camp. Higgins anticipates playing for Cincinnati in the upcoming 2024 season after the Bengals decide to place the franchise tag on him.
“I do anticipate it,” Higgins said, according to a video posted by WXIX-TV. “I’ve grown a love for Cincinnati that I didn’t think I would. [I’m] looking forward to it.”
Contract Negotiations and Franchise Tag
For the last couple of years, Higgins and Cincinnati couldn’t agree on a long-term contract. They didn’t make much progress before the 2023 season, during which Higgins faced injuries.
A rib injury in Week 4 and a hamstring problem before Week 10 made Higgins miss five games in total last year. He ended the season with 42 catches for 656 receiving yards and five touchdowns, all of which were the lowest in his career.
The Bengals still consider Higgins valuable for next season despite the contract impasse. If he agrees to the franchise tag, he’ll secure a fully guaranteed one-year deal worth $21.8 million. Both parties have until 4 p.m. ET on July 15 to discuss a long-term agreement.
Comparison with Other Tagged Players
Among the eight players tagged this offseason, Higgins and Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Antoine Winfield Jr. are the only ones who have yet to finalize contract extensions with their respective teams.
This group includes Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr., who recently inked a lucrative three-year contract, boasting $41 million in guaranteed money.
In terms of receiving yards among players drafted in the 2020 NFL draft, Pittman currently holds the fifth spot with 3,662 yards. Meanwhile, Higgins, selected just ahead of Pittman as the No. 33 pick, stands fourth in his draft class with 3,684 receiving yards.
Awaiting Contract Extensions: First-Round Picks
The top three players ahead of Higgins in receiving yards—Justin Jefferson of the Minnesota Vikings, CeeDee Lamb of the Dallas Cowboys, and Brandon Aiyuk of the San Francisco 49ers—are also awaiting contract extensions. All three were first-round picks and are slated to play under the fifth-year rookie option for the 2024 season.
This report used information from ESPN.
