Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins announced on Monday that the team placed the franchise tag on him for the second straight year. This was the expectation all along as the Bengals keep Higgins from hitting the open market as they look to lock him into a long-term contract extension before the deadline on July 15. If Higgins and the Bengals cannot work out an extension, he'd make over $26 million in 2025. However, placing the franchise tag on the 26-year-old pass-catcher won't prevent the Bengals from trading Higgins, although their preference is to sign him to a long-term deal. Higgins' fantasy value for the 2025 season would most likely be higher if he went elsewhere, but he proved last year that he can still be a strong WR2 for fantasy managers despite being on the same team as All-Pro receiver Ja'Marr Chase. Despite missing five games due to injuries in 2024, Higgins finished as the WR17 in half-PPR scoring with a 73-911-10 line on 109 targets.

The New England Patriots are not expected to pursue pending free-agent Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins. The Bengals are expected to use the franchise tag on Higgins in hopes of reaching a long-term extension, but the Patriots are out on Higgins either way, according to Chad Graff of The Athletic. Instead, New England is focused on building its offensive and defensive lines, something new head coach Mike Vrabel valued highly during his tenure with the Tennessee Titans. New England needs to get better at the wide receiver position, but it sounds like the team is not looking to spend big on a wideout this offseason.

Cincinnati Bengals director of personnel Duke Tobin said on Tuesday that he's "optimistic" about re-signing wide receiver Tee Higgins. "Our preference with Tee Higgins is to do a long-term extension," Tobin said. The Bengals are attempting to do some serious juggling to fit all their star players into the 2025 salary cap, but it is possible, even though they are fully expecting to make receiver Ja'Marr Chase the league's highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL this offseason as well. To buy themselves some more time, Cincy is expected to place the franchise tag on Higgins for the second straight year. Although the 26-year-old played in just 12 games due to some injuries, he was money for fantasy managers when he was on the field by posting 73 receptions, 911 yards and a career-high 10 touchdowns on 109 targets. Higgins would probably have a higher fantasy ceiling elsewhere, but he'll be a solid WR2 if he stays in Cincy.