It’s unlikely we’ll see Tee Higgins in a Bengals uniform anytime soon.
The wide receiver has not signed the franchise tag tender offer and is not expected to do so before next week. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
If Higgins does not sign the tender offer by next week, he will be ineligible to participate in team-sponsored activities and cannot participate until he does.
This was the latest development in the saga between the two teams since Higgins was reportedly unhappy with the team using the franchise tag on him earlier in the offseason and the receiver requested a trade. .
At the time, Schefter reported that Higgins was “disappointed that the team has not had any discussions regarding a long-term contract extension since March 2023.”
“He is ready to move to a new home.”
Higgins is clearly not happy with the way things are unfolding, but he told reporters in April that he expects to play for the Bengals in 2024.
“I expected that. I had developed a love for Cincy, but I never thought it would happen to me.” he told FOX19 at the time.
Higgins will make $21.816 million this season under the franchise tag in Cincinnati.
The wide receiver has 403 catches for 3,684 yards and 24 touchdowns in four seasons with the Bengals.
Last year, he was plagued by injuries, appearing in only 12 games and making just 42 catches for 656 yards and five TDs.
The Bengals and Higgins have until July 15 to negotiate a long-term extension, and he is the only player placed with the franchise or transition tag this offseason who was unable to negotiate an extension with the team.
Higgins was selected by the Bengals in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft.
