As the NFL offseason (unfortunately) approaches, one name is sure to dominate the free-agent market: Tee Higgins.
The imposing wide receiver, who spent the early part of his career with the Cincinnati Bengals, is poised to become one of the most sought-after players after another standout season in 2024.
Higgins, who was drafted in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft out of Clemson, returned to the Bengals in 2024 on the franchise tag.
After another impressive year, his value has skyrocketed. With teams across the league looking for a bona fide No. 1 or reliable No. 2 receiver to elevate their offense, Higgins is positioned to secure a deal with several suitors ready to compete for his services.
So, how much can Higgins leverage the interest in his talent to land the biggest contract possible?
According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the wideout’s market appears to be worth no less than DeVonta Smith’s 2024 extension, with a potential to exceed $30 million annually.
Fowler’s extensive reporting on the Senior Bowl shed light on the situation, noting that many team personnel believe Higgins will easily clear $30 million per year.
“The over/under on Bengals receiver Tee Higgins’ market is $30 million per season, and the majority of team personnel that I spoke with believe he’ll hit or clear the over,” Fowler reported.
“The lowest estimate I heard was somewhere slightly above DeVonta Smith’s three-year, $75 million deal. The rest saw him breaking into the $30 million range, based on his status as a No. 1-caliber receiver and the number of teams desperate for pass-catching help.”
Although Higgins and Smith play vastly different styles – with Higgins using his size to dominate and Smith earning the nickname “Slim Reaper” for his agility – both have similarly impressive resumes.
Each has recorded multiple 1,000-yard seasons and is now looking for a second major contract.
While a $25 million-per-season deal would be a win for most GMs, Fowler noted that this figure is merely a baseline; considering the number of teams in need of wide receiver help, the $30 million mark is looking increasingly realistic for Higgins.
So, what’s Higgins truly worth? Opinions differ. Over The Cap estimates his value at around $21.8 million per season, based on his play thus far.
However, most of the sources Fowler spoke to predict that his market will likely land over the $30 million threshold.
Where Higgins lands will have far-reaching consequences. Not only will his new team benefit from his services, but his departure from Cincinnati could reshape the AFC North.
The Bengals, one of the NFL’s top passing offenses, would lose one of quarterback Joe Burrow’s most reliable targets at the peak of his career.
As the offseason unfolds, Higgins’ decision will be one of the most closely watched storylines. His contract could set a new standard for wide receivers, with implications reaching across the league.
One team that is undoubtedly keeping close tabs on Higgins is the New England Patriots. New head coach Mike Vrabel would love to provide promising quarterback Drake Maye with a legitimate receiving threat who’s about to hit his prime.
However, according to NFL insider Albert Breer, Pats fans shouldn’t allow themselves to get too excited about the possibility of landing Higgins.
“I still don’t like Tee Higgins to come here. I don’t,” Breer said on 98.5 The Sports Hub. “Here’s the thing. They offered [Brandon] Aiyuk a better deal than Pittsburgh did. They offered Aiyuk a better deal than Cleveland did. If I remember right, again, I don’t have it in front of me, I know we talked about this before, but I think it was $32 million per on a four-year deal or he had a choice, or $30 million per year on It was a three-year deal.
“He would rather go to Pittsburgh where the number was something like… It was a tick less than T.J. Watt because they wanted to keep him under T.J. Watt. It was like something like $27.8 or something like that. When you start to get up into that neighborhood, guys are going to… You have to way overspend to convince a guy not to like, ‘I’m going to take a little bit less and go contend.’
“Buffalo has got some flexibility cap-wise now. If they go and make a competitive offer for Tee Higgins, why wouldn’t he go there?”
We still have Super Bowl Sunday to enjoy. But after the confetti finishes falling, it won’t be too much longer before the offseason drama ratchets up.
What are your thoughts on Higgins’ situation?
At the end of the day, where do you think he will end up???
