Higgins would have been the top wide receiver to enter free agency next month.
Tee Higgins, arguably the top wide receiver in this year’s free agency and a potential target for the New England Patriots, is not expected to enter the open market after all.
The Cincinnati Bengals are planning to use the non-exclusive franchise tag on him for a second straight offseason. James Rapien of Sports Illustrated was first to report the news.
Higgins, 26, entered the league as a second-round selection in the 2020 NFL Draft. After catching 257 passes for 3,684 yards and 24 touchdowns in his first four seasons as a Bengal, the organization employed the $21.8 million franchise tag last offseason to bar him from entering unrestricted free agency for the first time in his career.
One of eight players tagged last offseason, he was the only one not to sign a long-term deal. As a consequence, Higgins was scheduled to hit the market yet again this offseason.
Given his production — he added 73 receptions, 911 yards and 10 TDs to his résumé in 2024 — he would have been a highly sought-after player. New England was seen as a realistic candidate to be in on him as well: not only do the Patriots have a projected $128.69 million in salary cap space to work with, according to cap expert Miguel Benzan, they also are in dire need of some upgrades at the wide receiver position.
Higgins would have provided just that, but his expected return to Cincinnati eliminates him as an option. In turn, the team’s focus is likely to shift to other free agency targets such as Chris Godwin, Josh Palmer or Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, or to players available on the trade market and in the draft.
The NFL franchise tag window will open on Tuesday, Feb. 17, and run through 4 p.m. ET on March 4. New England using the tag on a member of its own free agency class is not expected to happen.
Free agency will begin on March 12 at 4 p.m. ET.