'Just Let Tee Walk' - People in NFL Circles Think Bengals Made Mistake Tagging Tee Higgins

The Bengals used the franchise tag on Higgins for a second-straight season.

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (5) takes the field for the first quarter of the NFL Week 18 game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh on Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025. | Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

CINCINNATI — The Bengals placed the franchise tag on Tee Higgins on Monday, which means he won't make it to free agency. This is the second-straight year they've used the tag on their star wide receiver.

There are plenty of people in the NFL that believe the Bengals made a mistake according to Dianna Russini of The Athletic.

"They're just really, really top-heavy at this point. When you talk to people around the league about the Bengals situation... Because a lot of people were watching this going like 'how are they going to pay these guys? How is this going to work out?'" Russini said on the Scoop City Podcast. "There were some people who felt that they should just let Tee walk. Just let Tee hit free agency. Go get a second receiver somewhere. Pay Ja'Marr. Extend Trey Hendrickson."

Related: Cincinnati Bengals Tagged Tee Higgins: What's Next for the Star Wide Receiver?

Those people aren't alone. I've seen plenty of comments from Bengals fans that believe letting Higgins walk in free agency would've made sense.

In reality, the Bengals are hoping to sign Higgins, Ja'Marr Chase and Trey Hendrickson to long-term deals this offseason. Using the tag on Higgins was inevitable.

The 26-year-old was considered the No. 1 free agent in this year's class. Obviously the Bengals used the tag to keep him from getting to free agency.

Higgins is set to make $26.179 million this season. The Bengals and Higgins have until July 15 to agree to a long-term deal.

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