Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins is expected to sign his franchise free-agent tender Saturday, according to published reports, paving the way for him to join the club next month for the start of training camp.
The transaction is expected to be official Monday.
Higgins, one of the biggest big-game wide receivers in Bengals history, is earmarked to make $21.8 million on a one-year deal. The sides have until July 15 to agree to a long-term contract, nine days before training camp opens at Paycor Stadium.
The 6-4, 220-pound Higgins has muscled his way to five of his dozen 100-yard receiving games in December and has added two more in an AFC championship game and Super Bowl LVI.
Higgins had back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in 2021 and 2022 and even though he missed five games because of injury supplied more December magic in 2023. He had two fourth-quarter touchdown catches against the Vikings, including a remarkable one-handed job he stretched to the pylon to win it with 39 seconds left. Then he added 140 yards in Kansas City two weeks later.
Higgins' signature comes two days after the completion of the Bengals' mandatory minicamp.
