Jessie Bates III knows a thing or two about getting franchised by the Cincinnati Bengals. He played under the tag in Cincinnati throughout the 2022 NFL season before earning a four-year, $64 million contract with the Atlanta Falcons last offseason.
In many ways, Bates’ experience with the Bengals is similar to what wide receiver Tee Higgins is going through now. Higgins, like Bates, is dissatisfied with the Bengals’ lack of a long-term contract, as well as with the prospect of playing under the tag next season.
Both players were tagged by the Bengals in early March, but Higgins has yet to sign his franchise tender. Bates didn’t sign contract until late August 2022. In the interim, he vowed not to play for the team under the tag, but he eventually gave in and suited up for Cincinnati. The following year, he received a good salary from another organization.
Bates’ advice to Higgins
Given his past and experience being tagged by the Bengals, Bates offered some wise advise to Higgins, which the great receiver should heed.
“I’ve been through that process through the franchise tag, and I let it weigh on me a little bit more than I should have and it affected my play and how I was living my day-to-day life,” Bates stated. “My advice for Tee is to just focus on your craft; it doesn’t matter. If this is the contract year, I always say: “Every year is a contract year.” You should go out there and train as if this is your final year of playing.”
Basically, Bates’ advice to Higgins is to control what he can control. He can’t control his contract situation, but he can control how he plays out on the field, and if he has a stellar season in 2024 it will only help him when it comes time to sign a new contract — either with the Bengals or another team — next year.
