Cincinnati Bengals

The Cincinnati Bengals informed impending free-agent wide receiver Tee Higgins on Friday that they will place the franchise tag on him, according to a source. Instead of trying to negotiate a long-term contract extension with Higgins right now, they will place the franchise tag on him by the deadline next week. This was always the most likely outcome for the 25-year-old, who played in just 12 games in 2023 due to injuries. He was a disappointment for fantasy managers, finishing with a career-low 42 catches on 76 targets for 656 yards and five touchdowns. Higgins could certainly bounce back with better health in 2024, but getting out from under the shadow of No. 1 receiver Ja'Marr Chase in Cincinnati would have been the best scenario for Higgins' fantasy value moving forward.

The Athletic's Paul Dehner Jr. writes that all indications are pointing to the Cincinnati Bengals using their franchise tag on impending free-agent wide receiver Tee Higgins this offseason. The franchise tag for a receiver for 2024 would cost Cincy $20.7 million. One league source suggested the Bengals could place the tag on Higgins early in the window as a statement acknowledging that no long-term deal will be reached and opening the door for the rest of the league to consider or submit tag-and-trade offers. The team could also tag Higgins again in 2025 but would do so at 120 percent of this year, which would be for $24.8 million. The 25-year-old wideout was a major source of frustration for fantasy managers in 2023, as he played in a career-low 12 games, finishing with 42 catches for 656 yards and only five touchdowns. If he remains in Cincy, his ceiling and floor will be capped as long as he's in the shadow of Ja'Marr Chase.

Free-agent kicker Cade York visited with the Jacksonville Jaguars on Tuesday and then with the Tennessee Titans on Wednesday, according to a league source. York didn't kick in a regular-season game at all in 2023 after landing on the New York Giants' practice squad Injured Reserve in December due to a quadriceps injury. The 22-year-old from LSU was a fourth-round selection in the 2022 draft by the Cleveland Browns, and he made 24 of his 32 field-goal attempts and 35 of his 37 extra-point tries in his rookie season in 17 total games. York is now making the rounds and is hoping to latch on with another team so he can compete for a kicking job in training camp this summer.

Indianapolis Colts impending free-agent running back Zack Moss said that he would be interested in re-signing with the team this offseason. Moss showed that he still belongs in the league in 2023 when he took advantage of added opportunities with Jonathan Taylor missing time due to injuries. The 26-year-old played in 14 games (eight starts) and was productive with 794 rushing yards and a career-high five touchdowns on 183 rushing attempts, adding 27 receptions on 37 targets for an additional 192 yards and two touchdowns. If Moss does return to the Colts, it will be as the clear backup to Taylor, and he won't be nearly as productive unless Taylor misses more time due to injury. At best, he'll be a handcuff option for fantasy managers that take Taylor in fantasy drafts this fall if he returns to the Colts.

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (wrist) thinks he can be ready to throw by organized team activities this offseason, but he's not completely sure of his timeline as he recovers from season-ending surgery on his right wrist. The 27-year-old signal-caller had a lost season in 2023, first suffering a calf injury in training camp that kept him out of the preseason and was responsible for both him and the Bengals offense getting off to a slow start in the regular season. Burrow's wrist injury caused him to miss the final seven games, and he finished with a career-low 2,309 passing yards, 15 touchdowns and six interceptions in 10 games. Even if Burrow isn't quite ready to throw by OTAs this spring, he should be fully recovered by the time training camp starts at the end of July.