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Cincinnati Bengals make big decision on Tee Higgins' future

Tayyib Abu
Cincinnati Bengals make big decision on Tee Higgins' futureDAZN
Is Tee Higgins staying in Cincinnati?

One of the NFL's top free-agent wide receivers is now off the market. The Cincinnati Bengals have franchise-tagged Tee Higgins. 

The 25-year-old will not hit the open market. Instead, Higgins will go onto the franchise tag. 

 

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Teams use the franchise tag on players when they cannot strike a long-term deal. In previous years, quarterbacks Dak Prescott and Kirk Cousins have played on franchise tags before signing contract extensions. 

The Bengals and Higgins have engaged in on-off contract talks since last summer. The franchise tag confirms that the two sides have not come close to finalising a new deal. 

Higgins will play the 2024-25 season on the franchise tag if they cannot agree on a contract extension. That is a one-year deal where Higgins will earn $21.8 million. That money will also sit on Cincinnati's salary cap bill for the upcoming season. 

However, the Bengals can continue talks for a contract extension. The tag just confirms that Higgins cannot speak to other teams on the open market. 

Moreover, the Bengals could trade Higgins if they feel they will not get a deal done. 

Nonetheless, this move does have implications across the NFL. Higgins was one of the hot free agents. He is no longer available. And the Bengals will see a hefty chunk of their salary cap money disappear with this move. 

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