The Cincinnati Bengals have become one of just two teams - along with the Kansas City Chiefs - to utilize the franchise tag for a player in 2025.

The franchise tagging deadline has passed and there are officially only two players who won't hit the open market.

The deadline for teams to utilize the franchise tag for a player has come and gone, and there are officially just two players who were designated.

Here's the latest news and everything you need to know about the first major wave of NFL player movement this spring.

A franchise tag is a one-year deal that keeps a player from entering free agency, which begins on March 12 at 4 p.m. ET. The two sides can continue working on a longer term deal until July 15 at 4 p.m. ET. If extensions aren't agreed upon by then, the player will compete one year under the franchise tag.

The Cincinnati Bengals are utilizing the franchise tag for the second consecutive season on the same player as wide receiver Tee Higgins has been hit with the tag once again. The Bengals, who announced the move Monday, do not want to allow Higgins to hit free agency, and will now turn their attention to negotiating a long-term deal.