The Cincinnati Bengals signed vast receiver Tee Higgins to a one-year contract, the workforce introduced Monday. Higgins, who was set to signal his franchise tender Saturday earlier than inking the brand new deal, plans to report back to coaching camp.
That is the newest step in a course of that has felt inevitable because the Cincinnati Bengals positioned the tag on the vast receiver on the first attainable immediate in February. Higgins was the primary NFL participant to be tagged within the offseason.
“I’m excited to maneuver ahead with Tee,” mentioned Bengals coach Zac Taylor in an announcement. “He’s achieved an awesome job dealing with his scenario, and we’re completely happy to get him again within the fold so we are able to begin working towards an awesome 2024 season.”
Higgins made a commerce request thereafter however the Bengals indicated zero need to satisfy it, as a substitute reiterating their need to make another run at a Tremendous Bowl with Higgins alongside Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase.
Higgins will make $21.9 million this yr on the tag and be a free agent getting into a booming receiver market within the spring. Of the 9 gamers to be given the franchise tag within the NFL this offseason, Higgins is the one one who didn’t comply with a long-term contract.
The market to signal Higgins has gone up dramatically as Justin Jefferson, Nico Collins, Jaylen Waddle and others all took turns lifting the expectations of prime WR contracts. Jefferson lately penned a four-year, $140 million contract extension that won’t solely make him the highest-paid vast receiver within the NFL, but in addition the highest-paid non-quarterback.
The Bengals made Burrow the highest-paid participant in NFL historical past final offseason and have eyes on maintaining him with Chase long-term. That’s left Higgins on the surface of his desired phrases.
In the meantime, the Bengals simply spent a third-round choose on WR Jermaine Burton and have been particularly happy with the progress of 2023 draft choose Andrei Iosivas.
GO DEEPER
Cincinnati Bengals NFL Draft picks 2024: Grades, suits and scouting experiences
Higgins didn’t take part within the offseason program, which ended Thursday in Cincinnati.
Higgins, 25, completed with 42 receptions for 656 yards and 5 touchdowns over an injury-shortened 12 video games final season. He’s surpassed 1,000 receiving yards twice (2021, 2022) because the Bengals drafted him with the thirty third choose of the 2020 NFL Draft.
Required studying
(Picture: Charles LeClaire / USA At the moment)
