Over the last year-plus, the Cincinnati Bengals have been in some heavy discussions with stars for extensions. Last year, as the season kicked off, the team signed Joe Burrow to a massive well-deserved extension. When the pen eventually hits paper, Ja’Marr Chase‘s likely record-breaking contract will be well-earned. One star who hasn’t received a long-term extension to this point is Tee Higgins.
Before last year, the team and Higgins had discussions but according to ESPN‘s Ben Baby back in May, the two hadn’t had new discussions for a year. Then, he requested a trade, a request the Bengals were never going to oblige. As a result, the Bengals placed the Franchise Tag on the former second-rounder. While there was a concern he wouldn’t sign it, when the deadline came, Higgins signed and has been with the team ever since.
While there remains an incredibly minute chance the two can agree on an extension to keep Burrow, Chase, and Higgins together, it’s widely expected that he will be the biggest name in free agency next year. As a result, Bleacher Report expects Higgins to sign a massive contract with a new team.
Tee Higgins Expected to Garner a Massive Contract in Free Agency
As the only player on the Franchise Tag, Higgins is set to make $21.8 million this year. As negotiations went on, it was found out that Higgins was not looking for top-of-the-market money and something closer to Michael Pittman‘s deal (three years, $70 million). However, according to Kelsey Conway of The Enquirer, the Bengals’ side of negotiations did not ever eclipse $20 million AAV. Which, looking back, is odd because he’s making $21.8 million this year.
If the team wanted to Franchise Tag him again next year, that cost would go up to about $26.1 million.
Higgins’ Proposed Deal
If/When Higgins hits agency following this year, he will be joined by the likes of Stefon Diggs, Elijah Moore, Amari Cooper, Hollywood Brown, and Chris Godwin.
Bleacher Report has Higgins as the top receiver and second-best overall free agent on the market (behind Dak Prescott). As a result, they have him earning an impressive new contract:
While several quality veteran receivers are scheduled to be available next spring, Cincinnati Bengals wideout Tee Higgins is the top young option. The 25-year-old has recorded two 1,000-yard campaigns in four seasons and has averaged 63.5 receiving yards per game.
Higgins’ numbers might not seem overly impressive, but it’s worth considering that he’s been Cincinnati’s No. 2 option behind Ja’Marr Chase for three of his four campaigns—he had 908 yards and six touchdowns as a rookie despite playing only 10 games with Joe Burrow.
There’s a chance that Higgins could emerge as a viable No. 1 receiver in a different offense. And even if he’s only a high-end No. 2, those players are becoming increasingly valuable in today’s NFL.
The recent extensions of DeVanta Smith ($25 million annually) and Jaylen Waddle ($28.3 million) serve as proof.
For Higgins to reach that kind of money, though, he’ll need to play a full season and return to being a 1,000-yard pass-catcher. The 2020 second-round pick missed time with rib and hamstring injuries in 2023.
A strong campaign should put Higgins in the $25 million club, and here’s a scenario in which he goes even higher. If Chase’s contract hold-in goes deep into the regular season and Higgins puts up legitimate No. 1 receiver numbers, he’s going to get No. 1 receiver money in free agency.
Projected Contract Value: Four Years, $100 Million
Who Wins the Bidding War?
B/R doesn’t name a team to win the bidding war, of course. The Tennessee Titans are a popular pick to land Higgins as he is from Oak Ridge, Tennesse, a Knoxville suburb just under three hours away from Nashville.
At this point in his career, Higgins has shown that he can be a WR1. As a rookie, he amassed 908 yards and six touchdowns on an offense without Chase. And, despite having Chase opposite him, he logged back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in 2021 and 2022. Last year, he battled injuries, missed five games, and only managed 656 yards and five touchdowns.
This year will be massive for the talented pass-catcher from Clemson. If he can put up another healthy, 1,000-yard season, that four-year, $100 million deal will look like a bargain.
Main Image: Frank Bowen IV/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK
