The immediate future is set for Tee Higgins. Long-term, not so much.
The Cincinnati Bengals have decided against extending their star wide receiver ahead of the July 15 deadline, leaving Higgins to become a free agent in 2025, Ian Rapoport reported on X.
The team slapped the franchise tag on Higgins last month, retaining him for the upcoming season, where he will earn $21.8 million — the designated tag value for receivers. He'll suit up for at least one more year with Ja'Marr Chase as one of the NFL's top wideout duos, with a healthy Joe Burrow throwing to them.
The Bengals exercised the fifth-year option on Chase's rookie contract back in April, meaning the Bengals will have to make some tough decisions come next years free agency.
The 25-year-old, Higgins posted back-to-back 1,000-yard campaigns in 2021 and 2022. Injuries limited him to 12 games last season, resulting in him having a career-low 656 receiving yards. Yet, with the ball in his hands, he still made an impact as he managed five TD's on a career high 15.6 yards per reception.
