Bengals re-sign WR Tee Higgins to 1-year franchise tag

Cincinnati wide receiver Tee Higgins, who was named the Bengals’ franchise player on February 26, has officially signed a one-year contract, as announced by the team on Monday. The 25-year-old Higgins had been absent from all offseason activities, including the recent mandatory minicamp, as he was seeking a long-term extension and had reportedly requested a trade. However, he has now signed the $21.8 million franchise tag and is expected to report to training camp. The Bengals now have time to negotiate a long-term extension with Higgins before the July 15 deadline. Additionally, they have another starting receiver, Ja’Marr Chase, who is also due for a contract extension. Bengals coach Zac Taylor expressed his excitement about having Higgins back on the team, praising his handling of the situation and looking forward to a successful 2024 season. Despite being limited by injuries in 2023, Higgins still managed to put up solid numbers with 42 receptions for 656 yards and five touchdowns. Since being drafted in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft from Clemson, Higgins has been a key player for the Bengals, appearing in 58 regular-season games with 257 receptions for 3,684 yards and 24 touchdowns. He has also performed well in the playoffs with 31 receptions for 457 yards and three touchdowns in seven games. –Field Level Media