Tee Higgins is expected to be football’s most-wanted player once free agency begins in March. Everyone wants to know, where will the Cincinnati Bengals star land when all is said and done?
Higgins just turned 26 years old in January after finishing his fifth NFL season. Needless to say, the 6’4″, 219-pound receiver is in his prime.
He’ll have his choice of suitors in free agency, with various teams predicted to throw big money at him, maybe as much as $30 million per season.
Tee Higgins Predicted To Land in New England
The Bengals haven’t been ruled out to sign Higgins to an extension, but it seems like a long shot with a slew of other marquee players they need to lock up. Ja’Marr Chase is one big name looking for a “what’s fair” contract.
Meanwhile, the smart money has Higgins being the odd man out. The bean counters don’t see enough money in the coffers for the Bengals to bring him back. The question is, where will Higgins end up?
One anonymous general manager told Jason La Canfora that the New England Patriots could be the leading candidates to grab him.
“Multiple executives I spoke with predicted Higgins will land at least $30 million per season,” La Canfora said. “I think he’s going to New England,” the first GM detailed. Patriots owner Robert Kraft “took a lot of s*** for not spending any money, rightfully so, and I hear they really want this guy.”
The #Patriots “really want” free agent WR Tee Higgins and are willing to spend the money, per @JasonLaCanfora
“Multiple executives I spoke with predicted Higgins will land at least $30 million per season. “I think he’s going to New England,” the first GM said. Patriots owner… pic.twitter.com/NAACfhQUQ4
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) February 13, 2025
Second-year quarterback Drake Maye would surely welcome a go-to receiver. The Patriots have underwhelming options at wide receiver on the current roster. Remember, tight end Hunter Henry was the team’s leading pass catcher in 2024: 66 receptions for 674 yards and two touchdowns.
Bengals Standout Posts Five-Word Message on Social Media
Higgins hasn’t been shy about his desire to remain in Cincinnati. He’s been very vocal on wanting to keep the core pieces together, although he doesn’t seem willing to take a pay cut to do it.
Recently, Higgins posted a semi-cryptic message on his X account: “Ima let yall know first.”
Ima let yall know first
— Tee Higgins⁵ (@teehiggins5) February 11, 2025
Higgins also made the following comments to FOX19’s Joe Danneman.
“We’ll see. You never know what the future holds,” Higgins said. “Obviously, I would love to be here in Cincinnati. I love it here. I love the city. I love the fans. I love the coaching staff. I love everyone in the building, but it’s out of my control.”
Why Higgins Is PFSN’s Top-Ranked Free Agent
Higgins has put together a solid body of work since he entered the NFL in 2020. Over the last five years, his 4,595 receiving yards ranks 18th in that time. While his 65.6 yards per game only rank 26th, he has effectively played four of those seasons as the No. 2 behind Chase.
Over the course of his NFL career, Higgins ranks 10th at the position in success rate (59.8%) and 13th at the position in touchdowns. The 2024 season was his best in terms of touchdowns (10) despite only playing in 12 games. His drop rate this season was also a career-low 2.8%, while Burrow had a 119.5 passer rating when targeting Higgins.
Higgins’ biggest Achilles heel right now is his health. He’s missed a total of 10 games over the past two seasons and hasn’t played a full season since his rookie year. Additionally, there were reports that he was playing through an injury down the stretch to try and help the Bengals make the playoffs.
That toughness will certainly be respected, but it also raises concerns. Having played just 24 out of 34 games in the last two years, plus the contests when he played hurt, there are some serious durability questions that teams must consider before making a lucrative offer.
