The Bengals have a problem—a good problem, but a problem nonetheless. They’ve got a roster stacked with playmakers, a quarterback locked in for the long haul, and WHO DEY expecting a deep playoff run. But money doesn’t stretch forever, and Cincinnati now faces a $26 million decision on Tee Higgins. By the way, that’s one of Joe Burrow‘s weapons we are talking about here.
So, do they pay up and keep their WR duo intact, or do they let Higgins walk and hope Ja’Marr Chase can carry the load?
Tuesday marked the first day teams could slap the franchise tag on free agents, and Higgins is right in the middle of that conversation. Tagging him again would cost the Bengals around $26 million for the 2025 season—money they technically have, with $46 million in cap space. But it’s not that simple. Chase is due for a massive payday soon, and sinking that much cash into two receivers? That’s tricky business.
Then there’s Higgins himself. His cryptic Instagram post—“priorities are rare, options are everywhere”—had fans reading between the lines. What’s he saying? Is he staying? Testing the market? Players love keeping fans on edge, but Higgins is in a unique spot. Injuries held him to 12 games last season, but he still put up 911 yards and a career-best 10 touchdowns. Back in 2021 and 2022, he topped 1,000 yards each year. When healthy, he’s a WR1 on plenty of teams.
Joe Burrow sure isn’t hiding his feelings. He’s publicly backed Higgins, making it clear he wants his WR2-turned-1B to stick around. But Burrow isn’t the one signing the checks. Cincy’s front office has to balance keeping their franchise QB happy while maintaining a competitive roster. And that roster? It’s got holes, especially on defense. They fired Lou Anarumo, their longtime DC, and need serious reinforcements.
Which brings us to the bigger picture. The Bengals could clear up to $70 million in cap space with a few key cuts, but even then, they have eight or more starting spots to fill. Do they go all-in on Higgins and keep the offense humming? Or do they spread that money around and fix a defense that got torched in 2024? It’s a tough call. As Derrik Klassen put it on The Athletic Football Show, “Where do you actually want to start throwing the resources?”
That’s the million-dollar—or, rather, $26 million—question. If Higgins stays, the Bengals likely can’t afford a top-tier defensive free agent. If he leaves, they suddenly have flexibility but lose one of their biggest playmakers. There’s no easy answer, but one thing’s clear: whatever decision they make will define the Bengals’ next era. One where JB’s got his eyes on the prize.
Resting in the offseason is not the solution for Joe Burrow
Joe Burrow isn’t sitting back and hoping things work out. He sees what’s happening around the league—especially in Kansas City (who just lost the SB LIX)—and knows the AFC is there for the taking. That’s why he’s putting pressure on the Bengals’ front office to keep his weapons around.
On Pardon My Take, Burrow pointed to the Eagles’ approach to managing the cap, saying, “The Eagles are paying everybody. That seems like the way… whatever they’re doing.” Translation? He wants Cincy to get creative with the numbers to keep Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase.
The math is tricky, but Burrow isn’t just throwing ideas out there. He’s done his homework. Philly has kept Jalen Hurts, A.J. Brown, and DeVonta Smith together by restructuring deals, converting salaries into signing bonuses, and pushing money down the road. Burrow himself signed a five-year, $275 million extension in 2023. He knows what it takes to build a winner. And he’s even willing to adjust his own contract if it means keeping this core together. “You gotta have good players. It doesn’t matter how good your quarterback is. If you don’t have good players around him, you’re not going to be a very good team.”
Joe Burrow addresses the Bengals slow starts and the importance of their WRs
“We have the space we need to keep both [Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins].” pic.twitter.com/2cSy0YUfts
— First Take (@FirstTake) February 6, 2025
The Bengals’ front office has decisions to make. Higgins is set to hit free agency, and Chase is due for a monster extension. Cincy could tag Higgins for around $26 million, but that limits their flexibility elsewhere. And let’s not forget Burrow was sacked 48 times in 2024. That’s a 7.4% sack rate—higher than it should be for a franchise QB. They need money for protection, too. So where does it all go?
So, that’s the balancing act. Keeping Higgins and Chase means squeezing every dollar out of the cap. But fixing the O-line and defense? That takes cash, too. Burrow knows that. That’s why he’s nudging the front office in the Eagles’ direction. Push money around. Get creative. Find a way to keep the playmakers while still addressing the weaknesses.
The next few weeks will define the Bengals’ future. March 4 is the deadline to tag Higgins, and a Chase extension isn’t far behind. Burrow has made his stance clear—keep the gang together. Now it’s on Cincinnati to make it happen.
The post As Joe Burrow Gets Desperate, Zac Taylor’s Bengals Receive Massive $26M Tee Higgins Update After WR’s Cryptic Post appeared first on EssentiallySports.
