It was reported by Ian Rapoport that the Cincinnati Bengals will be using their franchise tag on wide receiver Tee Higgins for the second year in a row. The idea is that this will hold Higgins in Cincinnati for another year before they work out a long term deal this upcoming season.
The #Bengals have, in fact, franchise tagged WR Tee Higgins a second time, per @teehiggins5.
No surprise, as Cincy is not in the business of letting good players walk away. They’ll hope to do a long-term deal after the more than $26M tag. pic.twitter.com/XW56WgiW6a
The #Bengals have, in fact, franchise tagged WR Tee Higgins a second time, per @teehiggins5.
No surprise, as Cincy is not in the business of letting good players walk away. They’ll hope to do a long-term deal after the more than $26M tag. pic.twitter.com/XW56WgiW6a
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 3, 2025
This is bad news for the New England Patriots. New England has the most cap space in the league and seemed to be ready to offer Higgins a long term deal if he entered free agency. Higgins is a name that has been linked to the Patriots for a few seasons now, and it looks like he might never make his way to New England.
It has been known that Joe Burrow and the Bengals want to keep Higgins around it is just a matter if they could make the money work out. Regardless if they do or do not work something out the Patriots will have to wait another year if they want to sign Higgins.
Higgins has 73 receptions for 911 yards and 10 touchdowns in just 12 games played. It is scary to think of the numbers he could of put up if he played a full season. Higgins dealt with some injuries last season including a quad injury and an ankle injury, but when he is out on that field he does not miss a step.
Higgins is a big play threat that can go up and get it on any defender. His catch radius and body control is out of this world and at 26 years old Higgins is just entering his prime. He would have been the perfect first option for New England’s young star quarterback Drake Maye.
Maye loves to throw the ball down field and give his receivers a chance, the exact scenarios where Higgins succeeds the most. The Patriots could have locked down Higgins for multiple years and allowed for him and Maye to create a great connection and become a scary duo over the next few years.
Now the Patriots will have to shift gears to some other free agent receivers like Stefon Diggs or Chris Godwin. They could also assess the trade market for receivers like Cooper Kupp or DK Metcalf. The Patriots could still try to make a trade offer for Higgins, but it does not seem like the Bengals are looking to move Higgins any time soon.
The Patriots, who need a receiver desperately, will find some help for Drake Maye. Now it will be exciting to see who the Patriots choose to go after.
