Bears Better Hope These 6 Players Don't Get the Franchise Tag

Tee Higgins

Higgins was a popular hope to acquire via trade among Chicago Bears fans last offseason. The thinking was the Cincinnati Bengals would not have enough cap room to pay Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase, and Higgins. Now the time has come to see if the Bengals will end up paying Higgins or letting him walk.

Tee had a down year thanks to injuries. He missed five games in 2023. Higgins had 42 catches for 656 yards and five touchdowns. Also Burrow being injured as well did not help his production.

He will still be considered a prized free-agent receiver based on 215 receptions for 3028 yards and 19 touchdowns he produced in his first three seasons. If he is healthy, he is still a 6-foot, four-inches playmaking threat.

Imagine D.J. Moore and him catching passes from Caleb Williams or Justin Fields. The Bengals might decide to tag him to keep Burrow, Chase, and Higgins together for one more season. That would mean their teammate Tyler Boyd will likely be the receiver who walks in free agency.

He might be a solid signing for the Bears to make to replace Darnell Mooney.