The Cincinnati Bengals used their franchise tag on Tee Higgins on Monday, guaranteeing the wide receiver $21.816 million in the 2024 season.
Higgins, 25, was set to hit free agency next month at the end of a four-year, $8.68 million rookie deal he signed as a 2020 second-round pick. The Bengals had until March 5 to tag him.
“Tee has done an outstanding job for us since we drafted him,” coach Zac Taylor said in a statement. “I’m glad that he’ll continue to be a big part of our offense and our team.”
The sides have until July 15 to reach a long-term deal.
Higgins caught 42 passes for 656 yards and five touchdowns in 12 games (11 starts) in 2023 after posting back-to-back 1,000-yard campaigns in 2021-22. He has 257 receptions for 3,684 yards and 24 TDs in 58 games (53 starts).
The $21.816 million is the leaguewide franchise tag amount for wide receivers in 2024.
