For second straight season.  Doesn’t happen often and usually results in a long term deal with the team doing the tagging.  Something like $26.2 million, but don’t quote me on that. 

Think I heard they have until Mid-July to work out a longer term deal.  If not, then he plays for the $26+ million, or gets traded.

 

Disappointing that there still is no deal. 

What other wide receivers are going to get new contracts this off season? Who can set a 2025 market price for Higgins? 

I see Higgins getting a deal in the $30M a year range if the Bengals sign him now. That puts him with St. Brown, Aiyuk and Hill, and just above Waddle, D Adams and DJ Moore.

If the Bengals wait to sign him till summer, the price will be higher.

Here are the current highest paid wide receivers:

https://overthecap.com/position/wide-receiver

10 hours ago, mcpapa said:

For second straight season.  Doesn’t happen often and usually results in a long term deal with the team doing the tagging.  Something like $26.2 million, but don’t quote me on that. 

I believe this is also the last time they can tag him and after the 2025 season he will be a UFA

I'm assuming that this is the tag where he can not negotiate with other teams.  The Bengals must feel confident that they can get him signed.  With the cuts they continue to make, they have the money to do so.

14 minutes ago, REALSPORT said:

I'm assuming that this is the tag where he can not negotiate with other teams.  The Bengals must feel confident that they can get him signed.  With the cuts they continue to make, they have the money to do so.

I don't think so. It is thr franchise tag. Higgins can't negotiate with other teams unless the Bengals say ok.

I just don’t feel that Tee is worth $30M.  That simple.  I don’t like tagging him.  I don’t believe we will have the creativity to trade him.  I think it’s the same cloud that will hang over the team all summer just like last year.  I know Joe wants him back and I think his input should be considered, but if we want to improve the defense and the offensive line we can not spend $70M on two WRs.  Time for Joe to elevate an average WR, like he has done with TEs over the last few years.  The unfortunate thing is that Joe has been so vocal with the media about this deal it puts a poorly run organization into a corner even more than usual.

On 3/4/2025 at 1:27 PM, Voice of Reason said:

I don't think so. It is thr franchise tag. Higgins can't negotiate with other teams unless the Bengals say ok.

 

On 3/4/2025 at 1:10 PM, REALSPORT said:

I'm assuming that this is the tag where he can not negotiate with other teams.  The Bengals must feel confident that they can get him signed.  With the cuts they continue to make, they have the money to do so.

I’m pretty sure Tee technically can negotiate with other teams. However, other teams usually won’t negotiate with a player that is tagged, because it cost that team two first round picks to sign a franchise tagged player. The tag allows the bengals to match an offer if Tee were to sign a deal elsewhere, and if the Bengals don’t match the offer. Then that team gives the Bengals two first round picks. So typically teams won’t negotiate with a tagged player, and just may reach out to that team about a trade. This way it’s not as steep as two first round picks. 

On 3/7/2025 at 10:22 AM, FatNate said:

I just don’t feel that Tee is worth $30M.  That simple.  I don’t like tagging him.  I don’t believe we will have the creativity to trade him.  I think it’s the same cloud that will hang over the team all summer just like last year.  I know Joe wants him back and I think his input should be considered, but if we want to improve the defense and the offensive line we can not spend $70M on two WRs.  Time for Joe to elevate an average WR, like he has done with TEs over the last few years.  The unfortunate thing is that Joe has been so vocal with the media about this deal it puts a poorly run organization into a corner even more than usual.

Me either and at the tag amount and the amount of games Tee plays on average, Tee will be making 2 million per game this year.  I love Tee, but no way man..

1 hour ago, futurecoach said:

 

I’m pretty sure Tee technically can negotiate with other teams. However, other teams usually won’t negotiate with a player that is tagged, because it cost that team two first round picks to sign a franchise tagged player. The tag allows the bengals to match an offer if Tee were to sign a deal elsewhere, and if the Bengals don’t match the offer. Then that team gives the Bengals two first round picks. So typically teams won’t negotiate with a tagged player, and just may reach out to that team about a trade. This way it’s not as steep as two first round picks. 

Correct. This is similar to the Lamar Jackson situation. They’ll hammer out a deal at some point.

I love every time this happens you have players cry foul. The PLAYERS agreed to this. Not sure they understand what’s going on half of the time.

There are actually 3 types of tags.  The media rarely says what type is used.  
 

Non-exclusive franchise tag 

The most common type of tag 

Allows a player to sign with another team if they offer a better contract 

The original team can match the offer or receive two first-round draft picks 

Exclusive franchise tag 

Prevents a player from negotiating with other teams 

Costs more than the non-exclusive tag 

Transition tag 

Similar to the non-exclusive tag, but the original team only has the right to match the offer 

If the original team doesn't match the offer, they receive no compensation when the player leaves

15 hours ago, bugatti said:

Correct. This is similar to the Lamar Jackson situation. They’ll hammer out a deal at some point.

I love every time this happens you have players cry foul. The PLAYERS agreed to this. Not sure they understand what’s going on half of the time.

Heard a comment on second time franchise tagged players and almost all of them signed a new deal with their existing team.

WR market updates:

Davante Adams, age 32, ranked 18 in stats, PFF ?, 2 years $46M

Metcalfe, age 27. ranked 25 in stats, PFF ? , 5 years $150M

Higgins, age 26, ranked 31 in stats, PFF #6, _________?