Back in March, the NFL world received jaw-dropping news about two wide receivers for the Cincinnati Bengals putting pen to paper on their new contracts.
While Ja’Marr Chase got his promised record-breaking extension that made him the highest-paid non-QB in the league, Tee Higgins wasn’t far behind. After weeks of back-and-forth deliberation, and even some drama, Higgins is officially under a shining, new, long-term contract. Let’s break down his salary, contract, and net worth.
Tee Higgins’ Contract and Salary
NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported the news that both contract extensions were finalized. Chase signed a four-year, $161 million deal, but for now, we’re focusing on Higgins’ new contract. You can find a full breakdown of Chase’s deal here.
Since joining the team in 2020, Higgins has been one of the most consistent and productive wide receivers in the league. Even as he took on a WR2 role behind Chase, his production was elite and right in line with the best No. 2s in the NFL.
Last season, despite playing in just 12 games, Higgins tallied 911 yards and 10 touchdowns — strong numbers that reinforced the Bengals’ urgency to extend him. His contract negotiations were a major talking point last offseason, but eventually, he had to stay put with a franchise tag.
This year followed a similar script, with Cincinnati franchise-tagging him for a second time — much to the chagrin of his mother. It ruffled some feathers in the former second-round pick’s camp and caused his mother, Lady Stewart, to respond negatively on multiple occasions.
However, the drama — and the deal — are now complete. Tee Higgins will play for the Bengals on a fresh, four-year, $115 million deal. The first two years of the contract are guaranteed, and his average annual value (AAV) of $28.75 million places him right on the edge of the top-10 highest-paid WRs in the league.
Despite Joe Burrow’s vocal support for keeping both Chase and Higgins, it was still a surprise to see the Bengals commit to both long-term, given their history of reluctance to hand out big contracts, especially ones with high guarantees and multiple years.
Had Higgins not reached terms on an extension, he would have played the 2025 season on a $26.2 million franchise tag. Heading into Week 7 of the 2025 NFL season, Higgins is ranked as the 52nd-best receiver in the league based on PFSN’s WR Impact metric.
Higgins’ Net Worth and Career Earnings
Right before his historic contract extension, Higgins was estimated to have a net worth of approximately $12 million, according to most online sources. However, with potentially $115 million up for grabs, that number should go up considerably in the coming few years.
READ MORE: NFL’s Highest-Paid Wide Receivers in 2025
Higgins has played under two contracts since entering the league in 2020. His rookie deal, signed after being drafted by Cincinnati, was worth just over $8 million. Last season, he earned nearly $22 million under the franchise tag.
In total, he has amassed $31,923,495 in career earnings — a figure set to skyrocket with his new deal’s guaranteed money. However, this total doesn’t include his off-field earnings, such as investments and endorsements. A recognizable name in the league, Higgins has already landed deals with major brands like Coca-Cola, Cantu Beauty, and Nike, among others.
As he continues to cement himself as one of the best wide receivers in the game and is paid as such, new ventures should continue to open up for him, potentially boosting his net worth even further over the next few years.
Bengals Players’ Fantasy Outlooks for Week 7
Here’s what PFSN’s Kyle Soppe wrote about the notable Bengals players’ fantasy outlooks for the Week 7 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers:
Ja’Marr Chase
As expected, the Bengals didn’t hesitate to cut Flacco loose in his team debut. The defense is always going to be a liability, and given the money they spent on their playmakers, why not at least try to compete that way?
The veteran QB chucked the ball 45 times as part of a game plan he hardly knew, making it very understandable as to why 50% of his throws would be directed towards either Chase or Tee Higgins.
READ MORE: Soppe’s Week 7 Fantasy Football Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em: Analysis for Every Player in Every Game
It was far from an efficient afternoon in Lambeau (4.9 yards per pass), but if Chase and Higgins are going to combine for 20 targets, all should be OK in our fantasy world.
There wasn’t a 20-yard play to be had in this offense on Sunday, and that makes the volume a requirement more than a nice-to-have. But I think it sticks. Chase isn’t likely to have a week where he finishes as the top scorer at the position, but the floor is higher now than it was two weeks ago, and that’s comforting enough to trust arguably the best in the game.
Tee Higgins
The Joe Flacco experience allowed Tee Higgins to set or match season highs in catches, targets, and yards. That’s the good.
The bad? This offense is still broken. It’s just going to be a little less so with the veteran QB calling the shots. They turned 16 carries into 55 yards against the Packers, and without much depth to their production, defenses aren’t going to hesitate to speed up Flacco, forcing him to make quick decisions.
I don’t think this is the last time we see Ja’Marr Chase and Higgins post a combined 50% target share, only for both to fail to record a 20-yard catch.
Higgins is a WR3 and carries just as much downside weekly as upside (in this crazy 2022 season, that’s a step forward from what I said in this article two weeks ago).
Chase Brown
Chase Brown’s fantasy stock gained steam as the draft process drew to a close this summer, and if you were able to avoid this landmine, more power to you … the best pick you made might be the one you didn’t make.
Brown is averaging 2.7 yards per carry, and you know it’s bad when he picks up 13 yards on a single play and you hold onto it for dear hope.
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The origin of these struggles isn’t rocket science. Brown is running into a loaded box on 32% more of his carries than he did last season, and his yards per catch are down 23.9%.
Awful defenses always put their offense at risk of inefficiency because they can become so predictable. Joe Burrow, at the peak of his powers, kept opponents honest, allowing Brown to thrive.
Remove the wrong Jenga piece (Burrow), and a beautiful structure crumbles.
This offense is rubble, and Joe Flacco isn’t the way to rebuild it. He has just three red zone touches during this four-game losing streak, and the lack of per-opportunity has a player once viewed as a top 24 player in all of fantasy sitting outside of my top 24 at the position in Week 7.