Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins is slated to hit free agency this offseason, but he may not get very far.

Brad Spielberger of Pro Football Focus says he expects the Bengals to slap a franchise tag on Higgins next month, which would keep Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase together for at least one more season.

Higgins is currently scheduled to be one of the best wide outs available on the open market, but given the expansive cap room that Cincinnati has, tagging him would make too much sense.

The 25-year-old is coming off of a rather disappointing 2023 campaign what was marred by injuries and instability at the quarterback position due to Joe Burrow’s health.

In 12 games, Higgins logged 42 catches for 656 yards and five touchdowns.

The Oak Ridge, Tn. native, who played his collegiate football at Clemson, was selected by the Bengals in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

He played in every game during his rookie year, catching 67 passes for 908 yards and six scores in what was a great introduction to the professional ranks.

Then, the following season, Higgins showed some improvement, hauling in 74 receptions for 1,091 yards while reaching the end zone six times. He proceeded to post nearly identical numbers in 2022. snaring 74 balls for 1,029 yards and seven touchdowns.

The Bengals have long had one of the best groups of receivers in football with Chase, Higgins and Tyler Boyd, but both Higgins and Boyd are ready to become unrestricted free agents.

While Boyd may end up playing his football elsewhere in 2024, it’s looking like Cincinnati will ensure that Tee Higgins spends at least one more year with the club.

The Bengals went 8-9 and missed the playoffs this season.

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