Higgins heads into the 2024-25 season placed on the franchise tag.

The Cincinnati Bengals got a year to hold off contract talks with their wide receiver Tee Higgins, who in a surprise move opted to accept the franchise tag being levied on him and the $21 million that comes with it. The negotiations between the two sides had gone on for a long time with Higgins demanding a long-term contract and upon their failure to make that happen, he wanted a trade.

A report from Kelsey Conway of the Cincinnati Enquirer has now revealed that the Cincinnati Bengals offered low-ball deals to Tee Higgins. The team’s offerings to the wideout never touched the $20 million range and as a result, his agent did not bother discussing the subject of guaranteed money in the contract. It has been a while since negotiations last took place.

The franchise tag is not a solution either, soon enough, the negotiations between the two sides will start yet again and this time, the Bengals will not have the safety net of the tag to fall back upon. The starting point as Higgins goes to the negotiating table will be the $21.8 million figure.

Tee Higgins has expressed his intention to continue playing for the Cincinnati Bengals

Currently, over 18 wideouts in the NFL earn $20 million per year, Tee Higgins is on the lookout for a contract similar to Michael Pittman, who inked a three-year, $70 million deal with an average of $23.33 million per year. He is hoping to earn $21-25 million per year, a figure that the Bengals remain reluctant to offer him as they will need to pay Ja’Marr Chase as well after the 2025 season.

Tee Higgins (via Bengals/YouTube)
Head Coach Zac Taylor remains optimistic about having Tee Higgins onboard for this year.

We think he's our best chance to help us win a Super Bowl. I've enjoyed working with Tee the last four years. I expect this year to be no different.

Zac Taylor said

The outcome of the Bengals’ season this year will also have a significant impact on the contract negotiations of Higgins. The wideout has made it clear that he would like to continue playing for the Bengals.

If the team can successfully return to the Super Bowl, then the odds of Higgins staying back while expressing willingness to take a pay cut could increase. The 25-year-old wideout played 12 games last season catching 42 passes for a total of 656 yards and five touchdowns, he was unable to stay healthy throughout the season as a fractured rib kept him out of the final four games of the regular season.