NFL 2025 franchise tag window: Important dates regarding Tee Higgins' future

One of the biggest questions in the NFL this offseason is what the Cincinnati Bengals plan to do with Tee Higgins. The star wide receiver is headed for free agency after an impressive 2024 campaign in which he caught 73 passes for 911 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Given his age and elite skill set, Higgins is projected to be an extremely hot commodity in free agency. After all, he's consistently been ranked as the top potential free agent, in the class regardless of position. But, the Bengals could block Higgins from ever even hitting the market by designating him as a franchise player.

Higgins played under the franchise tag for Cincinnati last season after the two sides failed to come to an agreement on a long-term extension, and the Bengals could technically tag him again for the 2025 season. Players playing under the tag in consecutive seasons is rare, but it is allowed.

Doing so would allow the Bengals to retain Higgins' services for another season while avoiding a long-term commitment. For what it's worth, Higgins was recently listed as a potential tag candidate for the Bengals by Pro Football Focus, along with just three other players league-wide.

2025 NFL franchise tag window opening and closing dates

When it comes to Cincinnati potentially tagging Higgins, there are a couple of important dates to keep in mind. The earliest the Bengals could potentially tag Higgins is Feb. 18, as that's when the tag period opens.

The window to designate a player under the franchise tag is a short one that remains open for just two weeks. March 4 is the deadline for teams to tag a player. So, if the Bengals plan to tag Higgins, they will have to do so by that date.

Placing Higgins under the franchise tag for the 2025 season would cost the Bengals north of $26 million. So, it seems somewhat unlikely. Higgins also likely would be unhappy with that outcome, as he's seeking some long-term security on a deal.

But, the Bengals are a team built to win in the present around star quarterback Joe Burrow, so perhaps they could look to tag Higgins again as opposed to letting him walk for nothing in free agency.

With the tag window about to open, we'll find out soon enough.