What was expected in Cincinnati with wide receiver Tee Higgins is official. 

The Bengals placed the franchise tag on Higgins for the second year in a row, as the wide receiver confirmed as much on X when he posted "tag."

Then, Cincinnati announced the move themselves, proclaiming their "intent of continuing to work toward a long-term deal" with the veteran pass-catcher. 

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Currently, Higgins would be paid $26.2 million for the 2025 season if they are not able to reach a long-term pact, which they didn’t last offseason. There is a July 15 deadline to get the deal done, or Higgins will have to play on his tag. 

However, the Bengals are optimistic they can get something done with a player who has had teammates, including quarterback Joe Burrow and fellow receiver Ja’Marr Chase, urge that he remain in Cincinnati. 

Burrow even said he’d be "disappointed" if Higgins went elsewhere. 

CAN BENGALS RE-UP STARS TEE HIGGINS, JA'MARR CHASE AND TREY HENDRICKSON

There is a question, though, about Chase’s long-term contract, as he could very well become the highest-paid non-quarterback in the league. In fact, GM Duke Tobin said so during his session with reporters at the NFL Scouting Combine this past week. 

So, where does that leave Higgins? Time will tell if the Bengals can figure that out with the NFL’s leading sack man from 2024, Trey Hendrickson, also due to be a free agent this offseason. 

Even with Chase playing a larger role for the Bengals, Higgins’ production has been some of the best in the league for wide receivers, collecting two 1,000-yard seasons in 2021 and 2022, while notching 73 receptions for 911 yards and 10 touchdowns, a career-high, this past season. And he did so in just 12 games. 

The Bengals were unable to make the postseason, though, despite Burrow leading the league in passing yards and passing touchdowns. 

Higgins may be one of the best receivers out there, but the Bengals have been unable to give him the deal he’s wanted since the 2023 offseason when it was first brought up. He was tagged in 2024, and ended up playing on it despite some contentious reports about negotiations. 

Higgins has a new agent this offseason, and it just so happens to be the same as Chase. 

He was expected to be one of the most sought-after free agents this offseason, but the Bengals want to give themselves time to get the deed done with Higgins this time around. 

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The Philadelphia Eagles are already making big offseason moves after winning Super Bowl LIX, but they aren’t in the additions department just yet. 

Instead, veteran cornerback Darius Slay is getting released after five seasons with the organization. 

Slay, a six-time Pro Bowl cornerback, will be a post-June 1 cut, which saves the Eagles $4.3 million against their salary cap to make other moves, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. 

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The Eagles’ roster is stacked, but GM Howie Roseman has been known to make some big splashes in recent offseasons, and creating space on his cap is crucial in doing so. One mustn’t forget every NFL Draft class also requires a good amount of cap space. 

The Eagles have just over $20 million heading into this month, and key players like linebacker Zach Baun, defensive end Josh Sweat and offensive guard Mekhi Becton are set for free agency. 

2025 NFL FRANCHISE TAG TRACKER: BENGALS PLACE TAG ON WR TEE HIGGINS

"As the cap gets tighter, as all our expensive players start becoming expensive, you have to go with young players," Roseman said this past month, per ESPN. 

So, Slay, 34, is a casualty despite his defensive prowess in the secondary. The Eagles, though, could afford to let him go considering their rookie tandem of Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean played a vital role in winning the Lombardi Trophy. They project to be the team’s top cornerbacks for years to come on their rookie deals. 

Slay, however, was a defensive captain for this Eagles locker room, playing a large role in senior leadership as well as helping the team be the No. 1 defense in the pass game last season. 

In 14 games, Slay had 13 passes defended, 49 tackles, one forced fumble, as well as a fumble recovery. 

According to CBS Sports, Slay wants to play one more year, and that usually means going to a contender to vie for another Super Bowl ring. 

One team to look out for is the Detroit Lions, the squad Slay started his career with. They need cornerback help, and they’re expected to look for it in all sectors this offseason, including free agency, where Slay is headed. 

Slay totaled 347 tackles and 104 passes defended over seven seasons with the Lions. From 2017-19, he made three straight Pro Bowls and was named first team All-Pro in 2017 after leading the league with eight interceptions and 26 passes defended. 

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