The Cincinnati Bengals are anticipated to lose star wide receiver Tee Higgins in free agency this offseason.
Whether it’s due to a lack of opportunity or money, Higgins is expected to suit up for a different organization next season. This will leave quite the void in the wide receiver room behind triple-crown-winning superstar Ja’Marr Chase.
One way to address the gap in quarterback Joe Burrow’s weapon room is through the 2025 NFL Draft, and experts are already predicting the Bengals will land a receiver with tremendous upside.
Bengals Predicted To Replace Tee Higgins With WR Drawing Comparisons to Lions’ Amon-Ra St. Brown
Higgins largely benefits from being a physical specimen, as he stands at 6’4″ and weighs 220 pounds. Arizona Wildcats wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan fits that mold but is unlikely to be on the board when the Bengals draft at No. 17.
This could lead Cincinnati to turn elsewhere at the position, potentially to a college known for producing superstar wideouts. Pro Football Network’s Matthew Cannata predicts the Bengals will select Ohio State Buckeyes WR Emeka Egbuka in the first round.
“Emeka Egbuka has the natural play strength, frame, and technical detail to play on the outside at both outside designations,” Cannata wrote. “However, his skill set would be best utilized in the slot, allowing him full freedom to operate as the route-running savant he is.”
The star senior concluded the 2024 campaign with 81 receptions for 1,011 yards and 10 touchdowns. While he doesn’t compare to the level of talent his teammate, freshman Jeremiah Smith, possesses, the Bengals adding another strong weapon for Burrow feels like a necessity to get back into the playoffs.
Cannata went on to compare Egbuka to the Lions standout St. Brown, writing, “Egbuka’s lackluster top-end explosiveness theoretically limits his ceiling, but he’s in a similar mold to Amon-Ra St. Brown, who has rounded into one of the most dangerous pass catchers in the NFL.”
However, other positions, such as the offensive line or defense, could hold priority.
4 Potential Landing Spots for Higgins
If Higgins is the highest-priority name on the market, there are surely a plethora of wide receiver-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 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 quarterback.
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 quarterback in Bo Nix and 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 aspects 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.
