For the second consecutive year, the Cincinnati Bengals are planning to use the non-exclusive franchise tag on wide receiver Tee Higgins, according to James Rapien of Sports Illustrated.
The tag window officially opens on Tuesday, Feb. 18 at 4 p.m. ET and lasts until Tuesday, March 4 at 4 p.m. ET.
When the Bengals franchise tagged Higgins last year, the two sides didn’t discuss a long-term deal. He was the only player that was tagged by his team and not sign a multi-year extension.
This year however, the Bengals plan to sign Higgins to a long-term deal, Rapien reports. Higgins changed agents in December, moving on from David Mulugheta. He signed with Rocky Arceneaux and Caitlin Aoki of Alliance Sports.
Joe Burrow was adamant that he wanted Higgins around in 2025 and beyond.
“Tee is a need, yes,” Burrow said in December. “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.”
Higgins wants to return. Burrow wants him back and the Bengals want him back.
In an ideal world, the two sides would agree to a long-term contract without the tag, but that may not happen before the March 4 deadline.
