The Cincinnati Bengals have made a move that has left Tennessee Titans fans disappointed. The Bengals have decided to franchise tag wide receiver Tee Higgins, diminishing the Titans’ hopes of signing him. This news comes as a blow to Titans fans who were hoping to see their team acquire Higgins, as he would fill a major need for the team. Adding to the disappointment is the fact that Higgins has a connection to Titans head coach Brian Callahan, who was his former offensive coordinator.
The franchise tag means that Higgins will be staying with the Bengals for at least another year. The price of the franchise tag for a wide receiver this year is a whopping $21.8 million. While it has not been specified which tag Higgins will receive, it is likely to be the non-exclusive one. This would allow him to negotiate with other teams, but the Bengals would have the right to match any offer he receives.
If another team does make an offer that the Bengals choose not to match, they would receive two first-round picks as compensation. This high price in draft capital, on top of having to pay Higgins a hefty salary, makes it unlikely that any team, especially a rebuilding team like the Titans, would be willing to make such a deal.
The best chance for the Titans to acquire Higgins would be through a trade. Trading for him would cost less in draft capital compared to the offer sheet route. A fair compensation for Higgins, based on his past production, would be a second-round pick. However, the Bengals may ask for more, possibly even a first-round pick, if they are not fully committed to trading him.
The Bengals have the option to keep Higgins for another year on the franchise tag or even extend his contract. They have enough cap space, with $51 million available, to make an extension possible. However, signing Higgins to an extension could complicate matters for the Bengals as they also need to sign Ja’Marr Chase to a massive deal. Investing a significant amount of money in two wide receivers may not be the team’s preferred strategy.
For the Titans, giving up a first-round pick for Higgins would not be wise, especially considering their rebuilding phase. It would be more reasonable to offer a second-round pick for his services. Additionally, the Titans could potentially have high first-round picks in the next few years as they continue to rebuild their team.
While the possibility of Higgins ending up in Nashville is not completely impossible, it has certainly become less likely with the Bengals placing the franchise tag on him. Titans fans will have to come to terms with the fact that their hopes of signing Higgins have taken a major hit.
