SafeX Pro Exchange|Bengals to use franchise tag on wide receiver Tee Higgins

The SafeX Pro Exchangewindow for NFL franchise tags to be issued just opened Tuesday, but the first move has already been made.

The Cincinnati Bengals told wide receiver Tee Higgins they will use the tag on him, a person with knowledge of the situation told USA TODAY Sports' Tyler Dragon.

The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the team hadn't yet made it official.

NFL Media's Ian Rapoport first reported the news Friday.

The move would keep Higgins off the open market when free agency officially begins at the start of the new league year on March 13.

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If Higgins does not strike a long-term deal and remains on the franchise tag, he would earn $21.8 million next season.

Higgins had ranked as one of the best potential free agents this offseason, coming in at No. 3 on USA TODAY Sports' pre-tag breakdown.

Higgins, 25, has emerged as one of the NFL's top No. 2 receivers since the Clemson product was selected by the Bengals in the second round of the 2020 draft. Working in tandem with top target Ja'Marr Chase, he eclipsed 1,000 yards in both 2021 and 2022. Last season, however, he played in just 12 games while dealing with a fractured rib and a hamstring injury late in the year.

After the end of the season, Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow made it clear he wanted Higgins back in some form for at least 2024.

“I know Tee wants to be here,” Burrow said in January. “Tee knows we want him here. There’s not much to say in that aspect. Everybody’s expectations is Tee is going to be back.

"We’ll see. The offseason plays out in crazy ways you don’t expect. I’d love to have Tee back and I know he wants to be back.”

Teams have until March 5 to reach decisions on the franchise tag.

Contributing: Tyler Dragon