One of the most intriguing storylines of the 2024 NFL offseason has involved the Cincinnati Bengals and their star wide receiver, Tee Higgins. Higgins has been seeking a long-term contract, but the Bengals haven’t been willing to come close to his price.
As a result, the franchise tag was placed on him this offseason. He eventually signed the one-year tender, but it feels like his time in Cincinnati will be coming to an end at some point.
Part of the reason the Bengals haven’t been willing to pay Higgins the kind of money he is seeking is they know they will have to dole out top-of-the-market money to Ja’Marr Chase. The team’s No. 1 is also doing a hold-in as he seeks a deal that trumps that of his college teammate Justin Jefferson.
Earlier this offseason, the Minnesota Vikings made Jefferson the highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL.
With that commitment looming, Higgins has been left in limbo. But, he will eventually get his and based on other deals signed around the league, he will get paid handsomely.
The Bleacher Report Scouting Department recently revealed some contract predictions for some of the top free agents in 2025 heading into the 2024 season. They believe Higgins could be the next high-end No. 2 receiver to land a contract that pays $25 million annually.
That is a number DeVonta Smith ($25 million annually) of the Philadelphia Eagles and Jaylen Waddle ($28.3 million annually) both reached with their extensions.
“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,” as written by Bleacher Report.
They predict that the Cincinnati Bengals pass-catcher will sign a four-year, $100 million deal. Who that contract comes from is anyone’s guess at this point.
But, as the No. 2 ranked free agent according to Bleacher Report, Higgins’ market should be robust. With Brandon Aiyuk agreeing to a long-term deal with the San Francisco 49ers, all attention will be on Higgins next offseason for teams seeking an upgrade at wide receiver.
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