Tee Higgins is shaping up to be one of the NFL’s most sought-after free agents heading into the 2025 offseason. The 25-year-old is widely regarded for his elite skill set, putting him in a prime position for a massive payday. As the 2024 regular season nears its end, analysts unanimously believe that he will reset the wide receiver market.
Tee Higgins to Break the NFL Free Agency Market?
NFL insider Jordan Schultz recently emphasized Higgins’ strengthening reputation in the league. He explained how his powerful performance has raised his price, especially with high stats in the past seven games. The Fox NFL Insider tweeted:
“Higgins… will have a substantial market this offseason, and his price has only increased.” That’s some appreciation for the Cincinnati Bengals star’s outstanding performances during a seven-game stretch in which he posted 44 receptions, 599 yards, and eight touchdowns.
#Bengals WR Tee Higgins has been on a massive heater over the past seven games:
▪️ 44 receptions
▪️ 599 yards
▪️ 8 TDsHiggins, who is an impending free agent, will have a substantial market this offseason, and his price has only gone up. Cincinnati would like to retain him… pic.twitter.com/NQJ3vtXn8e
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) December 30, 2024
Higgins’ consistent ability to deliver in big moments has made him a marquee name. The Clemson alumnus has excelled despite sharing targets with Bengals superstar Ja’Marr Chase. Over his first three seasons, Higgins averaged over 1,000 receiving yards, demonstrating the versatility, hands, and physicality that make him a WR1 on almost any team.
His recent career-best performance against the Denver Broncos, amassing 11 receptions for 131 yards and three touchdowns and including the game-winning grab in overtime, only built his reputation as a game-changer in clutch situations.
However, the Bengals are facing a significant challenge in retaining him. Ja’Marr Chase is expected to command a record-setting extension, and Higgins’ projected value exceeding $25 million annually is straining Cincinnati’s financial flexibility. Schultz’s report fuels the belief that Higgins’ time in Cincinnati is nearing an end.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler has noted that the franchise tag, projected at $26.2 million for Higgins, seems unlikely to be used, making him a prime candidate to test the open market.
Unsurprisingly, outlets across the league have unanimously ranked Higgins as the top free agent heading into 2025. Teams desperately need a playmaking wide receiver and are already positioning themselves to land him.
Higgins has everything that means size, speed, reliability, and a proven track record of delivering in high-pressure scenarios. Analysts call him the player most likely to transform an offense next season, per Yahoo Sports, as the offseason approaches.
Higgins has undeniably become the face of this year’s free-agent class. His departure from Cincinnati seems inevitable, but where he lands could shift the league’s power dynamics.
The Bengals Offense Has Thrived
PFN’s offense rankings combine statistics such as yards per play, points per drive, turnover percentage, success rate against the run and pass, third-down conversion rate, red-zone efficiency, pressure percentage when not blitzing, and various expected points added (EPA) measures against both the run and pass. These are then weighted accordingly to produce our rankings for each season.
The 8-8 Cincinnati Bengals might be the most explosive team in the history of the sport with such a record. Joe Burrow’s latest onslaught came in Week 17, with three touchdowns (all to Tee Higgins) and 412 passing yards leading to the Bengals’ third one-score win in 10 tries this season.
Through 17 weeks, Cincinnati ranks second in pass success rate (behind the Lions), with Burrow eclipsing 40 passing touchdowns for the first time in his career. He’s been nothing short of great despite a run game that hasn’t been very supportive (25th in success rate).
Chase Brown’s versatility has helped facilitate the eye-popping numbers from this passing game and creates a level of underneath production that can serve as a supplement to a traditional run game. The Bengals will need Brown for their Saturday Week 18 matchup against the Steelers after the second-year back injured his ankle at the end of regulation in Week 1.
So much about this offense looks the part of a playoff team, but there are two sides of the ball, which is what has Cincinnati hoping for a miracle to reach the postseason.