Done Deal: cincinnati bengals and Dallas have agreed to …
The Bengals informed Higgins they’d apply the franchise tag to him before the 2024 season, which would pay him $21.8 million for the year but leave him without a contract going forward and sowing uncertainty about his long-term future.
With quarterback Joe Burrow heading into the second season of a five-year, $275 million contract and a big payday coming for fellow wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase, Higgins would likely need to accept a contract below his actual value to remain with Cincinnati.
2023 was a disaster for the Bengals, who many viewed as a Super Bowl contender before injuries to Burrow both in training camp and the regular season derailed the campaign. Higgins dealt with injuries of his own, resulting in career-lows in yards (656) and touchdowns (five) in 12 games as Cincinnati went 9-8 and finished last in the AFC North.
But he did flash the talent that helped him eclipse 1,000 receiving yards in 2021 and 2022, and the Bengals should have plenty of teams hoping to acquire his services.