The Bengals have again made wide receiver Tee Higgins their franchise free agent in a bid to keep intact an offense coming off the most prolific season in club history.
The Bengals tendered him a one-year deal Monday in excess of $26 million after he caught a personal-best 10 touchdowns last season while playing on the tag. They have up until July 15 to reach a multi-year deal with Higgins as he heads into his sixth season, climbing up the Bengals all-time lists.
The Bengals said they made the move “with the intent of continuing to work toward a long-term deal in Cincinnati.”
Despite missing five games last season, he racked up 911 yards on 73 catches for the NFL’s No. 1 pass offense to become the 10th Bengal receiver with at least 4,500 yards, 330 catches and 34 touchdowns.
“He’s a warrior,” said Bengals head coach Zac Taylor last season. “He’s fighting through a lot and he just keeps rolling out there and keeps winning these one-on-ones.”
Their first draft pick after the Bengals took Pro Bowl quarterback Joe Burrow with the first overall choice of the 2020s, the 6-4 Higgins has become a Paycor Stadium favorite with his monstrous catch radius. Each grab is followed by a robust chant of “Tee-ee—eee,” that follows him on the road.
His piece de resistance came in last year’s Paycor finale with the Bengals needing to beat the red-hot Broncos to stay alive for the playoffs. Higgins responded with 131 yards and a career-high three touchdowns, the last a three-yarder that won it on a play he set up with a highlight-clip-over-the-shoulder catch while tiptoeing the sideline for 31 yards.
“Everybody can see what kind of player he is,” said Burrow, one of his biggest supporters, after the game. “He elevates us to a different level when he’s playing like that.”
Higgins has a big-game rep. Six of his 14 career 100-yard games have been in December. Three years ago, he had 103 yards in the AFC Championship win in Kansas City and followed it up with 100 more in the Super Bowl.
The Bengals said last week they also are working on long-term deals for All-Pro wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase and NFL sack leader Trey Hendrickson.
