Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins becomes last NFL franchise tagged player remaining for 2024

Unfortunately for Higgins, this was a matter of when, not if. The last year between the Bengals and Higgins' representation has not been particularly productive. Contract talks have been on hold for a while as the two sides never got close to an agreement.

Higgins was also the first player of the original nine to be given the tag this offseason. Cincinnati placed the tag on Higgins the first day they were allowed to do so.

With the wide receiver market continuing to rise, Higgins' tag of $21.816 million has become a valuable price for the Bengals. Should they wish to tag him again next year, that price will be $26.1792m, which is still well under the current top-of-market AAV for the position. 

It's not too common for only one player in the entire NFL to play on the franchise tag, but it did happen last year with former Dallas Cowboys running back Tony Pollard. Pollard eventually left the Cowboys when he became available in free agency this offseason.

The last Bengals player to play on the tag was Jessie Bates III, who also left in free agency when he had the chance. 

When the Bengals have used the tag, a long-term deal is never the result. Bates, A.J. Green, Michael Johnson can all attest to that, though Johnson of course returned to the Bengals after a year away.

It's looking like Higgins will be the next to join the list, and he'll be the only franchise player in the league in 2024 unless something drastically changes for both sides.