How did the Bengals and Higgins get to this point?

This is the third year the Bengals and Higgins have battled over a long-term extension. After Higgins was tagged last year, he requested a trade in the hopes of landing a new deal. He ended up signing the tag, playing 12 games and, perhaps most notably, switched agents ahead of this year’s big negotiation, from David Mulugheta to Rocky Arceneaux and Caitlin Aoki of Alliance Sports Management. Arceneaux also represents Higgins’ teammate, Ja’Marr Chase, who also is pursuing an extension.

Higgins has been a very productive receiver when healthy. But with the window closing quickly, the Bengals opted to place the tag on Higgins, which leaves the team with a few options. — Baby

What will Higgins’ state of mind be after failing to receive an extension, and what recourse does he have in the situation?

To be clear, the two sides can still reach an agreement on an extension. That deadline isn’t until July 15. However, the fact the Bengals tagged Higgins isn’t a great sign.

When Higgins got the tag last year, it was a sign to him that a new deal wasn’t coming. Higgins wanted to avoid the noise and the drama last year, which is why he accepted the tag well before training camp.

Higgins announced the latest tag himself with a four-character post Monday: “tag.” Even if the team said it wants to work toward a long-term deal, whether being tagged again increases his frustration about his situation in Cincinnati is worth monitoring in the coming weeks. — Baby

What are you hearing around the league?

The Bengals would like to sign Higgins to a long-term deal, so the franchise tag is a good placeholder for them — not to mention the value of the tag, $26.1 million, is lower than his actual market value.

People around the league are skeptical as to whether Cincinnati can pay Chase, Higgins and Hendrickson, but they are going to try. Expect rival teams to try to entice Cincinnati with a potential trade package leading up to the draft, especially if a receiver-needy team such as the Patriots doesn’t get what they need in free agency. Cincinnati has a penchant for keeping good players instead of dealing them, however. — Fowler

What does this mean for Higgins’ future in Cincinnati?

The Bengals have always been very high on Higgins. Even amid all of the contract drama this year, Tobin expressed how his fondness for the 2020 second-round draft pick has evolved since the moment he was a Bengal.

“My opinion of Tee has not changed,” Tobin said. “He walked in the building, I’m like, ‘Yep, that’s what I thought he was. That’s what he is.'”

But if the Bengals can’t reach a long-term deal with Higgins, and the receiver doesn’t want to play on the franchise tag, then Cincinnati should strongly consider trading him for draft capital with the hopes of finding a potential replacement. — Baby

How big of a distraction might this become for Higgins and the team?

This could be a sizable distraction. Keep in mind that when Higgins signed his 2024 franchise tag before the start of training camp, he said part of the motivation was to avoid being in the headlines.

He has been beloved by teammates and virtually everyone inside the building over the last five years. That includes quarterback Joe Burrow, who has been very vocal about keeping Higgins in Cincinnati.

If the two sides can’t agree on a multi-year extension, managing the fallout with the franchise quarterback will be the biggest obstacle for Cincinnati’s front office to face. — Baby

What does this mean for Chase and Hendrickson deals?

For starters, this could give Chase greater leverage in his contract negotiation as he seeks to become the highest-paid non-quarterback in league history, which is something Tobin said he hopes to accomplish.

With Higgins’ future uncertain, there is greater urgency to secure at least one long-term target for Burrow over the next few seasons. However, if the Bengals keep Higgins on the tag for the 2025 season, it will create less cap space for the team to sign Chase and Hendrickson, because Higgins’ tag amount will count entirely on the upcoming cap.

Still, Cincinnati should have ample space to get something done with their two All-Pro players, especially with the cap rising to $279.2 million in 2025. — Baby