Potential Panthers' Free Agent Target is Off the Board
According to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, the Cincinnati Bengals will place the franchise tag on wide receiver Tee Higgins.
It was always a bit of a pipe dream to imagine the Panthers signing Tee Higgins in free agency, but it's the hope that kills you, right? The franchise tag will pay Higgins a fully guaranteed contract of around $21.8 million for one season. It will also allow the Bengals and Higgins to work out a long-term contract extension while paying the star receiver his worth this season.
While Carolina won't be able to sign Higgins to a contract during this free agency period following this news, it doesn't rule out a trade scenario. Carolina could agree to compensation to send Cincinnati while working out a contract that keeps Higgins in Carolina for years to come.
Higgins finished an injury-riddled 2023 season with 656 yards and five touchdowns on 42 receptions, the worst season of his four-year career. His most productive season came in 2022 when he cracked 1000 yards and hauled in seven touchdown receptions.
The former Clemson Tiger is the big-bodied receiver that Carolina dreams of pairing with second-year signal caller Bryce Young. Thankfully for the Panthers, options abound this offseason in the draft and free agency when it comes to playmaking options, and missing out on Higgins is not a death sentence for the future of Carolina's receiving corps.
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