For years, Green Bay Packers fans have coveted the Cincinnati Bengals for having wide receiver Tee Higgins.

Many fans believed that Green Bay would select him in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft, adding another bonified passing target for Aaron Rogers and alongside Davante Adams.

The Packers, though, instead selected quarterback Jordan Love in a surprising and, at the time, unpopular decision. Rodgers, after all, was a two-time NFL MVP.

His going on to win the award in each of the two following seasons made the pick even more unpopular for some.

As it turned out, though, the Packers had it right all along. Rodgers is a shadow of his former self and will be looking for a new NFL team once the New York Jets release him this offseason. Love, meanwhile, has emerged as one of the better young quarterbacks in the game.

Many Feel the Green Bay Packers Need a #1 Wide Receiver in Free Agency

While Green Bay has a franchise quarterback that will be in place for years to come, they do have some questions that need answering at the wide receiver position. Ever since they traded Adams to the Las Vegas Raiders following the 2021 season, they have not had a 1,000-yard pass catcher, nor has their passing game been as consistent.

After Christian Watson tore his ACL in Week 18, and with their other top three wide receivers all having drop percentages between 10-12%, many believe that adding a veteran wide receiver that can be Love’s go-to guy in critical situations should be a high priority.

Higgins, who has four seasons of 900+ receiving yards, has once again become a popular target amongst Packers fans. So too is Adams, who is expected to be released by the Jets later this offseason.

And while either one could certainly step in and help improve the position, one of them all of a sudden is off the market.

The Cincinnati Bengals Plan to Use the Franchise Tag on Tee Higgins

According to a report published on Monday, the Bengals are planning on using their franchise tag on Higgins to prevent him from becoming a free agent:

“The Bengals plan on placing the non-exclusive franchise tag on Tee Higgins for a second-straight season, league sources have confirmed.”

While Green Bay may have made a play for Higgins in free agency, they likely will not try to work out a tag-and-trade deal for him as it would require them to give up premium draft picks as well as dishing out over $100 million over the next four seasons.

Perhaps Higgins and the Packers were just never meant to be a pair.