Tee Higgins 2025 free agency rumors: Struggling AFC giants to go "all in" on $21,816,000 WR
Tee Higgins will hit the 2025 free agency and he will not lack for suitors. The Bengals wide receiver is expected to be looking at a new home in the offseason. While he stayed back in Cincinnati because they placed a franchise tag on him, a rebuild is coming because they are likely to miss out on the playoffs in 2024. So, he will not have any compunction to join another team that might be able to offer him more money and a better chance of winning.
As per The Athletic, the Patriots are looking to make an offer that significantly upgrades the $21.816 million contract that he currently has with the Bengals. New England needs a wide receiver to give them a chance to close the gap with other teams ahead of them and Tee Higgins is likely to be the most accomplished free agent available to pair with second-year quarterback Drake Maye.
"Here’s an easy guess simply from reading the tea leaves: The Patriots are going to be all in on Tee Higgins. They’ve shown an interest in established receivers, and Higgins is the best free agent. I expect them to offer him the moon. The question is whether he says yes or no."
Will Tee Higgins want to leave the Bengals to join fellow AFC strugglers?
The Bengals are likely to miss out on the postseason in 2024. But the New England Patriots definitely are not making it. So, the question arises as to why Tee Higgins would want to go in that situation. The Athletic article gives some answers to that question. The thought process is that they can pay the wide receiver more but also pair him with a quarterback who is looking good in his first season. Answering a query that raises these points, author Chad Graff responds,
"Two words: Drake Maye. There are four main factors when attracting offensive free agents (and specifically wide receivers): money, the quarterback, the destination and the chance of winning. In recent years, the Patriots couldn’t offer three of those four things. Now, if they offer Higgins more than anyone else and pair him with Maye, maybe that overcomes being in a rebuild in a cold-weather market."
However, Tee Higgins might still want to go someplace that has a more established quarterback as he is already playing with Joe Burrow, who is one of the best in his league. Teams like the Chiefs or Bills, if they are looking, would be more premier destinations.