Report: Bengals want long-term Higgins deal, will likely use tag if needed

The Cincinnati Bengals are focused on getting a long-term extension done with pending free agent Tee Higgins, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.

If they can't agree on a long-term deal, the team will likely use the franchise tag on the wideout, Pelissero adds.

Higgins played under the franchise tag last season, meaning the second tag would increase to a one-year, $26.2-million deal in 2025. The two-week window for teams to use the franchise tag begins Feb. 18. and ends March 4.

The Bengals have until July 15 to work out a long-term extension with Higgins if they do franchise tag him. They can also trade the wide receiver during the process.

Higgins has been with the Bengals since they selected him in the second round of the 2020 draft. He's had two seasons with 1,000-plus receiving yards but has failed to stay healthy in recent years. The 26-year-old played in only 24 games over the last two campaigns.

Star wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase is also due for a long-term extension and is likely asking for top-of-the-market money for his position. Cincinnati is aiming to sign Chase, Higgins, and Trey Hendrickson to extensions this offseason, sources told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.

Quarterback Joe Burrow has been vocal this offseason about wanting the organization to keep the team's core together.

"We have the cap space to get it done," Burrow said earlier in February on "Breakfast Ball". "I want to make it happen. Everybody involved - Trey (Hendrickson), Tee (Higgins), Ja’Marr (Chase), and Mike Gesicki - we all want to stay together."

He added: "When you have guys that are motivated like that, I think you can get those things done."

Cincinnati currently has $49.4 million in cap space, according to Spotrac.