The Bengals franchise-tagged wide receiver Tee Higgins on Monday, marking the second consecutive year in which he’s received the designation. Despite the move, Cincinnati says it still hopes to work out an extension with him.
Higgins isn’t the only key Cincinnati player in need of an extension. Defensive end Trey Hendrickson and wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase are also in the market for new contracts after their current deals expire in 2026.
With the big-name players who will command megadeals, the Bengals front office decided to use the franchise tag again on Higgins. He’s set to make $26.1 million this season, but it’s unclear when and if the Bengals will sign him to a longer deal.
Many analysts had Higgins walking in free agency. He still could be traded, but for now, he is set to spend 2025-2026 on the team that drafted him. While we know his short-term future, his long-term outlook is still unknown. That didn’t sit well with one of Higgins’ teammates.
Here’s how Chase reacted to Higgins getting franchise-tagged again.
MORE NFL OFFSEASON NEWS:
Ja’Marr Chase’s ‘Joe Burrow meme’ Instagram post, explained
Chase posted a picture of quarterback Joe Burrow giving a hard side-eye during a press conference on his Instagram in August 2024 when he was undergoing his own failed contract talks. Chase obviously didn’t end up with the extension he wanted at the time.
Jamarr Chase is not happy about the Tee Higgins news pic.twitter.com/MvIyspFRW4
— BigBlueInsights (@BigBlue_Insight) March 3, 2025
Chase re-posted it on Monday after Higgins got tagged, likely because he isn’t happy his teammate didn’t get a long-term deal. From a team perspective, tagging Higgins makes sense. They need to get Chase’s extension done and a new contract with Hendrickson before seeing what money they have to give Higgins. Still, you can understand why Chase is questioning the Bengals front office and frustrated about his teammate, whom he has been clamoring for the team to pay.
“Pay the man” Ja’Marr Chase talking out loud to Tee Higgins during Higgins session with the media. Tee Higgins “this could be the last game in Stripes here so it meant a lot more to me.” pic.twitter.com/ZD1stiQFOU
— Mike Petraglia (@Trags) December 29, 2024
Chase likely isn’t the only one frustrated that Higgins didn’t get a longer deal. Burrow has been outspoken about wanting to keep his offensive core together. All signs are pointing to Chase earning a massive deal and likely becoming the highest-paid non-quarterback, but Burrow also wants to keep Higgins around.
“We’ve had those preliminary discussions. It’s really early in the offseason, so those guys and their agents will start to have those discussions coming up. But we’re confident that we’re going to be able to do what it takes. We all want to stay together, so we want to make it work.”
Joe Burrow side-eye meme, explained
Chase ended up screen-grabbing a great moment of Burrow’s. In a press conference from last August, the quarterback was trying to remember a time he hung out with Bears rookie quarterback Caleb Williams, and his side-eye was just him mulling it over in his brain.
My co-worker @GSorrentinoTV notified me the internet likes Joe Burrow’s new instagram profile pic.
We looked back at our video. Who did he side-eye?! Why?! Real investigate stuff.
He was trying to remember something about a time he hung out with Caleb Williams. Nothing more… pic.twitter.com/aFQxuAUQ3o
— Jeremy Rauch (@FOX19Jeremy) August 30, 2024
Chase used it when he was in contract talks with the Bengals and missed training camp practices. It signified that he wasn’t happy with the way talks were going. Burrow, to support his teammate, made it his Instagram profile picture at the time, and it is still his profile picture today.
Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins stats
Chase and Higgins’ stats with both on the Bengals
Higgins was drafted with the 33rd overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. Chase was selected the next season with the fifth overall pick. The duo has played four seasons with the Bengals.
| Stat | Tee Higgins | Ja’Marr Chase |
| Games | 70 | 62 |
| Targets | 512 | 582 |
| Receptions | 330 | 395 |
| Receiving Yards | 4,595 | 5,425 |
| Receiving TDs | 34 | 46 |
| Playoff Receptions | 31 | 45 |
| Playoff Yards | 457 | 588 |
| Playoff TDs | 3 | 3 |
Bengals’ passing offense rank with both Chase and Higgins by year
| Year | Total Yards | Yards per game | Passing Yards per Game |
| 2021 | 6,145 (13th) | 361.5 (13th) | 259.0 (7th) |
| 2022 | 5,768 (15th) | 360.5 (8h) | 265.0 (5th) |
| 2023 | 5,422 (22nd) | 318.9 (22nd) | 229.1 (15th) |
| 2024 | 6,214 (9th) | 365.5 (9th) | 272.9 (1st) |
Bengals’ record by year with Chase and Higgins
| Year | Record |
| 2021 | 10-7, (L, Super Bowl 56 vs. Rams) |
| 2022 | 12-4 (L, AFC Championship vs. Chiefs) |
| 2023 | 9-8 (No playoffs) |
| 2024 | 9-8 (No playoffs) |
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