The most recent iteration of Radio Row became a recruiting center for current NFL stars to pitch future free agents about joining their teams. The biggest name in NFL free agency in 2025 will be Cincinnati Bengals receiver Tee Higgins. He was a central talking point during Super Bowl Week and continues to be so as the offseason officially begins.
His ex-Clemson teammate Trevor Lawrence recently got his shot to recruit the star receiver.
Trevor Lawrence Pitches Tee Higgins Reunion in Jacksonville
Higgins and Lawrence played together at Clemson in 2018 and 2019, winning a National Championship together with the Tigers. Higgins led the ACC in receiving touchdowns in both seasons and was selected by the Bengals in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft.
He was part of one of the most explosive offenses in the NFL with Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase, while playing under the franchise tag in 2024.
The tag made Higgins the 19th-highest-paid receiver in the league, giving him $21.8 million fully guaranteed, but it’s unlikely the Bengals will tag the receiver again or sign him to a long-term deal. Chase is eligible for a monster extension that will blow $21.8 million per year out of the water, and the Bengals are already known to be tight with money.
PFSN has labeled Higgins as the No. 1 free agent coming off a big statistical year despite only playing in 12 games.
Higgins has 73 receptions for 911 yards and 10 touchdowns with a career-low 2.8% drop rate, and Burrow posted a 119.5 passer rating when targeting Higgins. He’s effectively been the No. 2 option behind Chase the last four years, but he could easily slide into the No. 1 role on a contender.
NFL Insiders have been speculating, with Albert Breer recently saying Higgins could potentially end up in Buffalo.
Lawrence threw his hat in the recruiting ring making his pitch on “Up & Adams.”
What's Trevor Lawrence recruiting pitch to former Clemson teammate Tee Higgins??? 😏
"We played together for two years, had A LOT of success in college. We could DEFINITELY do that again." @heykayadams @teehiggins5 @Trevorlawrencee @Jaguars | #DUUUVAL pic.twitter.com/unDtQYebGc
— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) February 17, 2025
“It’s awesome, we have a history for sure. No matter where he goes, obviously, I’d love to be throwing to him again. But no matter where he goes, he’s going to be a star. He already is, and I know Cincinnati wants to keep him. So Joe’s been putting the pressure on him over there.
“I’m sure he’s got the relationship with Joe, like, if everything goes well, I’m sure he wouldn’t want to leave. But if that wasn’t the case, I think I would definitely be up next as far as Tee and our relationship and what we’ve done in the past. We played together for two years, had a lot of success in college, and we could definitely do that again.”
Lawrence would love to add his former teammate, as any team would. Jacksonville has just over $31 million in cap space and would likely need to use much of that to sign Higgins.
The quarterback half-jokingly finished, “Jacksonville is a pitch in itself as far as a place to live. You’re in Florida. No state income tax. A lot of good things.” Lawrence’s history with Higgins may give Jacksonville a leg up, but a lot can change before the start of free agency.