Bengals' plan for WR Tee Higgins could carry risk

The Cincinnati Bengals reportedly want to keep wide receiver Tee Higgins but don't want to break the bank.  

On Monday, NFL Media insider Tom Pelissero reported the Bengals want to sign Higgins to a long-term deal but are "considered likely" to use the franchise tag for a second straight year (h/t NFL.com's Bobby Kownack). 

The franchise tag window runs from Feb. 18 to March 4. If Cincinnati uses it, the team would have until July 15 to sign him to an extension. 

Last offseason, Higgins requested a trade before signing the tag. He could certainly ask to be traded again, especially if he feels he should be rewarded for another productive year.

In 12 games in 2024, Higgins had 73 receptions for 911 yards and a career-high 10 touchdown catches. It marked the fourth time the fifth-year wideout finished with 900 receiving yards or more in the regular season. 

Cincinnati, however, may want to save room for an extension for WR Ja'Marr Chase. Chase — who led the league in TD catches (17 in 17 games) in 2024 — is entering the final year of his rookie contract in 2025. 

Spotrac estimates the Bengals have $49.46M in cap space. Extending Higgins and Chase would devour it.

Keeping Higgins off the free-agent market makes sense for the Bengals, but they better hope the strategy doesn't backfire. Higgins' murky future with the club could linger throughout the offseason and become a distraction. 

More importantly, it could upset Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow. He recently told Barstool Sports' "Pardon My Take" he's willing to restructure his deal (five years, $275M) to create the cap room Cincinnati needs to keep its core pieces. 

The Bengals should try to reach an agreement with Higgins soon. They want to keep the talented WR happy and can't afford to lose star players after missing the playoffs for two straight seasons.