Those around the league have seen the recent reporting on the Tee Higgins situation, but apparently aren’t ready to write it in orange and black sharpie.
NBC Sports Boston’s Phil Perry offered some eye-catching intel on an episode of “The Next Pats Podcast” released Saturday. The Patriots insider said some around the NFL question whether Cincinnati actually will use its franchise tag on Higgins. It was reported last week the Bengals plan to work out a long-term deal with Higgins, but would tag the wide receiver if they couldn’t find common ground before March 4 tag deadline.
“I would just say this: There are folks in the NFL who aren’t sure that even though the reporting is the Bengals plan to use the franchise tag on Tee Higgins if they can’t get a long-term deal done, people are telling me they’ll believe it when they see it,” Perry said.
“I think the reasoning is this: You can go ahead and do that. You can figure out the cap. Joe Burrow has basically done the cocktail-napkin math for you. But, at some point, you have to try to get better defensively, don’t you?”
Burrow and the Bengals ranked first in the league in passing yards and passing touchdowns in 2024. Ja’Marr Chase, Higgins and Burrow combine for one of the most lethal passing games in the league. However, throwing the bag at two high-end wideouts and a highly-priced QB means less money for other positions.
“People are looking at it saying, ‘Yeah, and where did that get you? You didn’t make the playoffs,’” Perry said.
“… But it’s an, ‘I’ll believe it when I see it,’ sort of attitude when people look at the Bengals. They know their reputation. They know how that roster is constructed right now. And yes, they know what the quarterback wants. And they know what financially the Bengals can achieve, which is keeping all three of their stars. But at some point they have to get better defensively, don’t they? Don’t they have to try to field a defense? That’s the opinion on Tee Higgins right now.”
Higgins reaching the open market felt unlikely last week. But perhaps there’s a chance the Patriots and other receiver-needy teams will be able to make a run at him after all.