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Bengals seek long-term deal for WR Tee Higgins, but could tag him

Mon Feb 17 6:47pm ET
Field Level Media

The Cincinnati Bengals are trying to work out a long-term contract with wide receiver Tee Higgins but are willing to use a franchise tag again for the 2025 season, according to multiple media reports on Monday.

The window to place a franchise tag is Feb. 18 to March 4. Higgins, 26, played out his one year as the team's designated franchise player, which paid him $21.8 million in salary. The franchise tag in 2025 would guarantee $26.18 million -- the average of the top five salaries for wide receivers last season.

Reports on Monday said that the Bengals, if necessary, will buy more time to negotiate a contract extension by placing a non-exclusive tag on Higgins. He will be able to negotiate with other clubs, but a team that signs him is required to compensate Cincinnati with two first-round draft picks, a steep price.

Once the Bengals tag Higgins, they would have until July 15 to work out a contract extension or the one-year deal becomes permanent.

Cincinnati also is weighing giving an extension to star wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase, 24, to keep the tandem together, as well as considering the future of defensive end Trey Hendrickson, 30, the NFL sack leader (17.5) last season. Both Chase and Hendrickson are four-time Pro Bowl selections and were first-team All-Pro in 2024.

The Bengals selected Higgins in the second round (33rd overall) of the 2020 NFL Draft.

He started nine of the 12 games he played last season and totaled 73 receptions for 911 yards and a career-high 10 touchdowns. He also played only 12 games (11 starts) in 2023 because of hamstring issues. For his career, Higgins has 330 receptions for 4,595 yards and 34 TDs in 70 games (62 starts).

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Player Notes
Saquon Barkley Feb 17 11:00pm CT
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Jaire Alexander Feb 17 10:40pm CT
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Brandon McManus Feb 17 10:40pm CT
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Myles Garrett Feb 17 10:30pm CT
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Dak Prescott Feb 17 10:20pm CT
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Ashton Jeanty Feb 17 10:20pm CT
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Gardner Minshew II Feb 17 10:00pm CT
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Aaron Rodgers Feb 17 9:50pm CT
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Matthew Stafford Feb 17 9:40pm CT
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Louis Rees-Zammit Feb 17 8:50pm CT
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The Jacksonville Jaguars signed quarterback John Wolford and wide receiver Louis Rees-Zammit to their active roster on Monday, the team announced. Wolford was with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Los Angeles Rams last year but didn't play in any regular-season games before joining Jacksonville's practice squad in December. The 29-year-old has played in seven NFL games (four starts), dating back to 2020, with all of his action coming with the Rams. He's gone 61-for-104 for 626 yards with a touchdown and five interceptions. Wolford will merely give the Jags extra QB depth heading into the 2025 season. Rees-Zammit is a rugby player from Wales that was originally signed by the Kansas City Chiefs last summer, but he was cut following the preseason before latching onto the Jaguars' practice squad. The 24-year-old had six carries for 24 yards in the preseason with the Chiefs.

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Liam Coen Feb 17 8:50pm CT
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The Jacksonville Jaguars have narrowed their search for a new general manager down to five candidates, which include San Francisco 49ers director of scouting and football operations Josh Williams, Los Angeles Rams director of scouting strategy James Gladstone, Chicago Bears assistant general manager Ian Cunningham, Green Bay Packers vice president of player personnel Jon-Eric Sullivan and current Jaguars interim GM Ethan Waugh. Jacksonville is expected to hire a new GM b the end of the week. The Jaguars are searching for a new GM after firing Trent Baalke following the 2024 season, which was believed to be directly related to how he handled their head-coaching search. Jacksonville eventually hired former Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Liam Coen, but only after firing Baalke and preventing Coen from returning to the Bucs.

From RotoBaller

Trevor Lawrence Feb 17 8:40pm CT
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The Pittsburgh Steelers never called the Jacksonville Jaguars recently about potentially trading for quarterback Trevor Lawrence (shoulder), according to a source with direct knowledge of the situation. Last week, Ryan Burr of the Big 10 Network reported that the Steelers reached out to the Jags about Lawrence, but sources quickly said there's "no chance" it would happen. Lawrence said on Monday that he won't waive his no-trade clause and won't go to Pittsburgh. The Steelers are at a crossroads at the QB position with both Russell Wilson and Justin Fields entering free agency, but they are expected to re-sign one of them this offseason. Although the Jaguars remain without a new general manager, those in the front office apparently remain fully committed to the former first overall pick out of Clemson. Fantasy managers, however, will probably be ignoring him this fall in 12-team, one-QB leagues.

From RotoBaller

Tee Higgins Feb 17 1:50pm CT
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Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins is expected to be franchise-tagged, according to James Rapien of SI.com. The team used the tag on him last offseason and is planning to do so again between February 18 and March 4 during the tag window. However, the organization is hoping to sign Higgins to a long-term extension this time around. The 26-year-old has hauled in 330 passes for 4,595 yards and 34 touchdowns in 70 games since being selected in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft. Higgins caught a career-high 10 touchdowns in 2024. Surely, many franchises were hoping Higgins would hit the open market, but it appears the Bengals are doing everything they can to keep the former Clemson star in Cincinnati for the short and long-term future.

From RotoBaller

Chris Godwin Feb 17 11:03am CT
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers impending free-agent WR Chris Godwin will not receive the franchise tag this offseason. However, the team will do everything it can to retain him.

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Jaire Alexander Feb 17 10:43am CT
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Dak Prescott Feb 16 9:13pm CT
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