Chase was always going to go up over $40 million per year after the team missed a chance to get him around the $35 million per-year mark last summer. Higgins could've generated around $30 million in free agency, while the tag gave him a lump sum of $26 million, so around $28 million would be an interesting compromise.

The Bengals have placed the franchise tag on Higgins ahead of Tuesday’s 4 p.m. ET deadline, the team announced. The Bengals intend to continue to negotiate a long-term extension with the wide receiver before the NFL's July 15 deadline to sign franchise players to long-term contracts.

With the top free-agent wide receiver in Tee Higgins now off the board, how do the Patriots go from here this offseason?