Cincinnati Bengals DVOA, Stats, & NFL Rankings

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 Athletic's Dianna Russini reports that while the Cincinnati Bengals have made an offer to All-Pro wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase, the two sides remain far apart in extension talks for now. Chase is fully expected to reset the non-QB market after he and the Bengals were unable to agree on an extension before the start of the 2024 season, but Cincinnati appears to be prioritizing an extension with Tee Higgins first this offseason. Cincinnati is trying to keep all three of Chase, Higgins and defensive end Trey Hendrickson, but if they can't get deals done with all three, Hendrickson is most likely to be the odd man out. The 25-year-old Chase had the league's receiving Triple Crown in 2024 by leading the NFL in catches (127), receiving yards (1,708) and receiving touchdowns (17), making him deserving of being the highest-paid non-QB. He'll be the first receiver off the board in the first round in 2025 fantasy drafts.

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 lead executive Duke Tobin said on Tuesday that wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase will become the highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL this offseason. "We're there, let's get it done signed contract that's what needs to happen," Tobin said. The Bengals couldn't get an extension done with the 24-year-old All-Pro pass-catcher before the start of the regular season, but that won't happen this year. Chase deserves a raise and should pass Vikings wideout Justin Jefferson ($35 million average salary per year) as the highest-paid non-QB in the league this offseason after he came away with the receiving Triple Crown in 2024 by leading the NFL in catches (127), receiving yards (1,708) and touchdowns (17) in 17 games played. The four-time Pro Bowler and former Offensive Rookie of the Year will be the top receiver off the board in the first round of fantasy drafts this fall.

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.