Tee Higgins to play for Cincinnati Bengals under franchise tag, per report

According to new reporting the Bengals and Higgins will not reach a long-term deal ahead of Monday’s deadline

It appears in this one particular case, deadlines do not make deals.

NFL teams have until 4:00 p.m. Eastern on July 15 to reach a long-term contract with players under the franchise tag. If such a deal is not reached by that deadline, the player will play the upcoming season under the tag, and reach free agency in the next offseason.

It seems that is going to be the case with the Cincinnati Bengals and wide receiver Tee Higgins.

According to new reporting from NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport, Monday’s deadline will come and go with the team and the receiver reaching an agreement on a new deal:

As noted by Rapoport Higgins has already signed his franchise tag, so he will play on the tag for one season before reaching free agency in 2025. Under the current terms of the franchise tag Higgins’ one-year deal with the team is worth $21.8 million.

Whether this news opens the door for a long-term deal between Higgins and the Bengals to be reached next spring, or the receiver will find a new home in the 2025 free agency cycle, remains to be seen. There are some intriguing free agents at the WR spot in next season’s free agency cycle, including Stefon Diggs, Keenan Allen, Amari Cooper, DeAndre Hopkins, Robert Woods, and Chris Goodwin.

There are also some intriguing names in the expected rookie draft class, including Arizona’s Tetairoa McMillan, Missouri’s Lurther Burden, and two-way standout Travis Hunter from Colorado.