The most valuable wide receiver set to hit the free agent market this offseason is Tee Higgins, and there’s no shortage of teams ready to make a run at him. Ranked as the No. 1 free agent in PFSN’s Top 100, Higgins is expected to demand a massive contract that could reach upwards of $30 million.
After spending his first five seasons in the NFL with the Cincinnati Bengals, Higgins could be on the move. However, one PFSN analyst predicts the receiver will stay in Cincinnati and earn the same lucrative extension as San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk.
Bengals Predicted To Give Tee Higgins Contract Similar to Brandon Aiyuk’s Four-Year Extension
Although his 2024 season was shortened because of an injury, he still put up amazing numbers — scoring 10 touchdowns in just 12 games while posting a career-low drop rate (2.8%).
“After playing out the 2024 season on the franchise tag, the consensus has been that Higgins is a goner. But in reality, the Cincinnati Bengals have the cap space to make an extension (or even a second franchise tag) work.
“Cincinnati enters the offseason with $50 million in cap space (11th-most). Higgins will certainly earn a deal worth over $30 million annually, but the Bengals can sign him to something similar to Brandon Aiyuk’s contract (four years, $120 million, $76 million guaranteed) without too much short-term pain.
“There would certainly be long-term consequences. Other free agents like B.J. Hill and Mike Hilton would be difficult to retain, while Ja’Marr Chase’s looming extension could cost Cincinnati Trey Hendrickson in 2026.
In order to stomach the cash flow, the Bengals may need to change how they structure contracts (where all the guaranteed money is typically paid upfront via the signing bonus), but the front office was willing to make an exception on Joe Burrow’s contract.”
It’s certainly a bold prediction, but the Bengals might eventually make an exception for Higgins, who has repeatedly expressed the desire to stay in Cincinnati.
“We’ll see. You never know what the future holds,” Higgins told Cincinnati’s local FOX19 when asked about his future with the Bengals. “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.”
But if the Bengals fail to re-sign Higgins or pass on tagging him again, it’s safe to say he’ll earn a hefty contract in NFL Free Agency.