Bengals’ franchise-tagged WR Tee Higgins won’t have extension by deadline

It appears Tee Higgins will be hitting the free-agent market in 2025.

The Bengals and their franchise-tagged wide receiver won’t have a long-term deal in place by the July 15 deadline, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Sunday, per a source.

Rapoport added that Higgins will play on the tag in 2024, as expected.

Higgins officially signed the franchise tag on June 17, which was a temporary resolution to an offseason impasse that included a trade request from the wideout and his subsequent absence from Cincinnati’s offseason program.

A second-round pick by the Bengals in 2020, Higgins has been a certified weapon for Joe Burrow when healthy, especially in the postseason.

The big-bodied wideout has produced 257 receptions for 3,648 yards (14.3 yards per catch) and 24 touchdowns through four seasons, but is coming off his worst statistical year in 2023 after an adverse campaign that saw the loss of Burrow in Week 11. Higgins also missed five games due to injury last season, bringing him to career-low marks of 42 receptions for 656 yards and five TDs.

Higgins is due to make roughly $21.8 million under the one-year deal, but long-term security is destined for his future come next offseason. Whether or not that’s with the Bengals remains as the only question.