Cincinnati Bengals executive Duke Tobin says the team is much better with Tee Higgins on the roster.

However, unlike last offseason when he emphatically shot down the notion that Higgins could be traded, the Bengals director of player personnel left the door somewhat ajar on Tuesday.

"In terms of our intentions going forward and answering hypotheticals of what could and couldn't come about, I won't get into that, but we feel like we're a better team with him," Tobin said. "The reason we franchised him is because we would like to have him. He's not under contract and it's hard for me to predict all the different scenarios that could happen."

The Bengals officially placed the franchise tag on Higgins on Monday. That guarantees Cincinnati the right to sign Higgins to a one-year deal worth $21.8 million for the upcoming season.

The Cincinnati Bengals have informed Tee Higgins they will use the franchise tag on him.

The tag will be worth approximately $21.8 million.

During the 2023 season, Higgins caught 76 balls for 656 yards and five touchdowns over 12 games.

The Cincinnati Bengals are replacing the playing surface at Paycor Stadium this offseason, completing the elimination of slit-film turf from NFL facilities.

Data compiled jointly by the NFL and the NFL Players Association has shown a higher rate of noncontact lower-extremity injuries on slit-film turf than on other synthetic surfaces. 

The Bengals and Hamilton County will install a FieldTurf Core system in its place. That surface is also used in stadiums in Atlanta, Carolina, Detroit, New England, New York and Seattle.

The Cincinnati Bengals are expected to place the franchise tag on Tee Higgins ahead of free agency if the two sides are unable to agree on a long-term extension, according to a report.

The Bengals have until March 5 to tag Higgins, who would make $20.7 million for the upcoming season under the tag.