Bengals have struck an agreement with Tee Higgins to sign for…

Tee Higgins looks to be sticking with the Cincinnati Bengals through the 2024 season, ahead of his NFL free agency.

The big question is what happens after that, as the Bengals will need to think outside the box to get a long-term contract for Higgins while simultaneously negotiating a massive agreement with fellow wideout Ja’Marr Chase.

Up until now, there has been a consensus that Higgins will receive the franchise tag this season. The Bengals are still trying to sign him to a long-term contract, though, so they won’t be using the tag.

Tony Pauline of NFL reporter says the Bengals are still trying to close a deal before the tag is activated.

According to media reports, Higgins will likely receive the franchise tag from the Bengals in order to remain with the team through 2024. But the team wants him for more than just the upcoming season, I’ve been told.

The Bengals are attempting to negotiate a contract extension with Higgins to keep him under contract for the upcoming few years, according to sources close to the team. The team will tag the wideout but keep negotiating in the hopes of landing a long-term deal before the season begins if they are unable to reach an agreement by March 5.

There’s been speculation as to how much the Bengals value Higgins and if they thought he was worth signing to a massive long-term extension, especially after last year’s report that Higgins was not in the Bengals’ future plans.

While I don’t think the Bengals will be able to hammer out a long-term deal with Higgins, it is good to know they haven’t thrown the towel in quite yet. Here’s to hoping a deal gets done before the one-year franchise tag has to be used.

The Bengals’ perceived worth and willingness to commit to a large long-term agreement have been speculated upon, particularly in light of the announcement from the previous season that Higgins was not part of the team’s long-term plans.

It’s encouraging to know the Bengals haven’t given up just yet, even though I don’t think they can work out a long-term contract with Higgins. Hopefully, a contract can be reached before the one-year franchise tag is activated.