There is a strong possibility the Cincinnati Bengals will part ways with star wide receiver Tee Higgins this offseason. Whether it’s because the Bengals’ front office is unable to pay him a desirable contract or the 26-year-old simply wants a greater role, Higgins is not anticipated to suit up for Cincinnati next season.
Higgins is fresh off a 2024 campaign, where he recorded 73 receptions for 911 yards and 10 touchdowns, all while playing behind triple-crown-winning WR Ja’Marr Chase. This is why Pro Football Network named the Tennessee native as the No. 1 NFL free agent available.
4 Potential Landing Spots for Higgins
If Higgins is the highest-priority name on the market, there are surely a plethora of WR-needy teams who could emerge as suitors. His next contract is projected to be in the ballpark of $20-30 million per season. With that said, let’s analyze four of the best possible free-agency destinations for the Bengals star.
Buffalo Bills
It’s no secret that quarterback Josh Allen’s weapons were below average at best this season. It was a blessing and a curse for Allen, as it could be the biggest factor in winning the MVP award while also being a strong reason for their loss in the AFC Championship to the Kansas City Chiefs.
After moving on from star WR Stefon Diggs, there were many concerns about the Buffalo Bills’ ability to contend for a Super Bowl. Those doubts were silenced, but Buffalo still came up short, emphasizing the need for a true No. 1 pass-catching weapon for Allen. Pairing one of the biggest arms in the league with the 6’4″, 220-pound Higgins is a recipe for success.
The Bills are in quite a rough cap situation, but if enough pieces are moved around, Higgins could choose Buffalo for the opportunity to team up with another top-of-the-league QB.
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots can outbid any team in the NFL for Higgins if that’s what the situation comes down to. New England has roughly $120 million in cap space to begin building a Super Bowl-contending team around rookie QB Drake Maye and new head coach Mike Vrabel.
For any young quarterback to develop properly, strong weapons are needed around them. It’s the exact impact Higgins and Chase had on quarterback Joe Burrow, who is now regarded as one of the best at the position. New England held interest in Higgins in the past, and if he’s satisfied with competing for a Super Bowl further down the road, this could be the answer.
Denver Broncos
Moving outside of the AFC East and into the AFC West, the Denver Broncos share a similar situation to the Patriots. Denver has a young QB in Bo Nix as well as an established head coach in Sean Payton. The key differences are their middle-of-the-pack cap space and elite defense.
PFN ranked the Broncos’ defense No. 1 in PFN’s Defense+ metric, compared to the Bills at No. 18 and the Patriots at No. 30. Pending what quarterback situation Higgins is interested in, the Broncos could make the most sense because they’re already established on one side of the ball.
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The only issue with Denver is their WR room already has Courtland Sutton and the emerging Marvin Mims Jr. and Devaughn Vele, while the former second-round pick could feast on targets in Buffalo and New England.
Las Vegas Raiders
This is arguably the least appealing situation for Higgins of the four, but like New England, the Las Vegas Raiders have the power to outbid almost every other organization.
The ideal parts of signing with Las Vegas are highlighted by their location, new coach and general manager, and a wide-open WR room. Higgins and TE Brock Bowers could form one of the most dominant receiving duos in the NFL if the Raiders’ front office can put the right QB under center.