It’s official: for the second year in a row, the Cincinnati Bengals have placed the franchise tag on Tee Higgins. If you thought a long-term deal was coming any day now, you’re not alone in feeling a bit disappointed.

This decision doesn’t just affect Higgins’ future — it also shapes how the Bengals are perceived when it comes to bringing in big names in the future. With a July 15 deadline to ink a multi-year deal, fans are on edge, wondering if the front office will finally commit or risk alienating one of its brightest stars.

On paper, Higgins has done everything you could ask of a young receiver: made clutch catches, produced consistently, and meshed well with quarterback Joe Burrow. He’s established himself as a potent complement to Ja’Marr Chase in an offense that can go toe-to-toe with anyone in the league when firing on all cylinders. 

But the Bengals have never been an organization known for rolling out lavish deals. That tension between a star player’s market value and a team’s cautious approach is now on full display.

Respect Your Stars or Lose Them: Ochocinco’s Warning

Leave it to Chad Ochocinco, one of Cincinnati’s all-time great receivers, to say what many fans are thinking:

"Disrespectful. It's disrespectful. The first year? Alright, you tagged me? OK, you want me to bet on myself to see if I can repeat it and do it again. The second time you tag me is like when you like a girl and you're interested in her, and she puts you in the friend zone. I don't really value you long-term. So I'm gonna put you in the friend zone… It's allowing the Bengals to buy themselves enough time to maybe work out a deal. But if you wanted to work out a deal, you would have done it a long time ago. Because there was nothing wrong with me the previous season. OK, I proved myself. I was productive again. And I understand what Tee could make on the open market. I love Tee Higgins. I love the Bengals. I love the organization. But if you don't value him long-term, why even play this game? Let him go. Let him walk."

He’s voicing a widespread concern: using the franchise tag repeatedly sends a message — intended or not — that the organization isn’t fully committed. Once that perception takes root, it can ripple throughout the league. Players and agents are always watching how franchises treat their core contributors, and the Bengals could have a tougher time attracting or retaining talent down the road. 

A Front Office Stuck In the Past

To make matters worse, Joe Burrow has made it very known publicly that he wants Higgins to be on the Bengals long-term. Letting him go could have some serious consequences for the relationship between the franchise and their star quarterback.

Meanwhile, other teams — like the Philadelphia Eagles — are getting universally praised for a more decisive style. The Eagles recently re-upped Saquon Barkley, rewarding him right after a dominant season. The result? A locker room that trusts management to take care of their own.

Adam Schefter's "Tag-and-Trade" Possibility

Then ESPN’s Adam Schefter talked about the reality that the Bengals might still move Higgins despite placing the Franchise tag on him again:

"There are people across the league who believe that this could wind up being a tag-and-trade. Now we don't know whether that will happen. But I can tell you that there are people around the league who believe a tag-and-trade is possible here with Tee Higgins despite the fact that the Bengals have said their intent is to sign him to a long-term deal."

A tag-and-trade scenario would be a major shake-up. For the Bengals, it means they’d get something in return instead of risking Higgins walking after this season. 

For Higgins, it would be a chance to sign a contract that matches his on-field production. But it also means leaving behind a strong chemistry with Burrow and an offense that — when healthy — can be the most dynamic in the AFC.

Potential Landing Spots

If Cincinnati opts to move him, there’s no shortage of interested teams.

New England Patriots

The Patriots are desperate for a bona fide number-one wideout, especially since they haven’t had a 1,000-yard receiver since 2019. Quarterback Drake Maye needs a reliable target, and Higgins could be that guy. 

New England also has the financial flexibility and draft capital to entice the Bengals. But would Higgins want to commit to Mike Vrabel’s balanced, maybe run-heavy approach? It’s a legitimate question of fit and philosophy.

Arizona Cardinals

The Cardinals possess ample cap space and an offense hungry for reliable playmakers. Pairing Higgins with Marvin Harrison Jr. and Michael Wilson could elevate a unit that’s lacked consistency. 

However, Arizona also has some glaring defensive holes. Shelling out more than $30 million a year on a receiver with a bit of an injury track record might be risky. Still, a big-name signing could jumpstart a roster with nice young talent.

Buffalo Bills

Buffalo has flirted with Super Bowl contention, only to watch their postseason runs end in heartbreak. Adding Higgins to Josh Allen’s arsenal might be the missing piece for an offense sometimes reliant on Allen’s legs and short passes. 

A Higgins-Allen combo would force defenses to stretch the field, opening lanes for everyone else. But like any contender, the Bills have to juggle the cap and convince Higgins it’s a prime destination for a long-term deal.

Los Angeles Chargers

Justin Herbert’s potential is sky-high, and head coach Jim Harbaugh has already infused the Chargers with a tougher mindset. What they need is a difference-maker at wide receiver. 

Higgins could instantly become Herbert’s favorite target, challenging AFC defenses. The Chargers have the money to make it happen, but they’d have to show Higgins they can build a consistent winner, something the franchise has struggled with in recent years.

Seeing It from the Bengals' Perspective

From the Bengals’ viewpoint, moving Higgins opens up cap room that can be redirected to other pressing needs — like strengthening a defense that struggled mightily last season. But such a drastic move risks angering Burrow, who’s been vocal about wanting Higgins, Chase, and Hendrickson around. The organization also hasn’t had the best track record of turning franchise tags into long-term deals, so fans are right to be skeptical.

Letting a guy like Higgins walk could come back to bite the Bengals. The AFC is stacked with elite offenses, and if they want to keep up with teams like the Chiefs and Bills, they need all the firepower they can get. 

In the grand scheme of things, you have to pay top talent eventually, or risk slipping back to mediocrity.

Time to Pay Up or Move On

Ultimately, the second consecutive tag for Tee Higgins puts the Bengals at a tipping point. If management truly sees him as indispensable, they have until July 15 to strike a long-term pact. Otherwise, the tag-and-trade route becomes the most likely scenario.

It’s a high-stakes gamble for a franchise that’s tasted playoff success but still hungers for a championship. Will the Bengals prioritize stability and show Higgins the money? Or will they roll the dice, hoping they can juggle the cap, keep Burrow happy, and patch the defense all at once? In the NFL, you can only kick the can down the road so many times before you catch up to it.

For now, Higgins remains a Bengal, but the clock is ticking. If the front office doesn’t act soon, the next time we see him, he could be wearing a different uniform — and Bengals fans will be left thinking about what could have been.