NFL News: Bengals' Tee Higgins, Agent Reportedly Part Ways Ahead of 2025 Free Agency

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins and his agent, David Mulugheta, have parted ways, according to Kelsey Conway of the Cincinnati Enquirer.

"They are no longer working together," Conway wrote. "Higgins is currently playing on the franchise tag and will be seeking a long-term deal in the offseason."

The news comes after ESPN's Dan Graziano reported that Higgins was considering an agent change. He made those remarks amid quarterback Joe Burrow's recently stated confidence that the team could bring the franchise-tagged wideout and impending free agent back into the fold.

"There are rumblings that Higgins is pondering an agent change (he's no longer listed with his previous agent on the official NFLPA site, but he's also not yet listed with a new one), which sometimes indicates a change in the player's negotiating stance. And Burrow's confidence shouldn't be ignored completely, as he's not the type to just say things like that off the cuff. I don't know how this shakes out. I still think it makes more sense for the Bengals to pay Chase, even if that means letting Higgins walk. But the longer it goes without a new deal for Chase, the more expensive the price tag gets."

Higgins, a fifth-year wideout, has caught 45 passes for 581 yards and five touchdowns in eight games this season.

After the Bengals' 27-20 road win over the Dallas Cowboys on Monday, Burrow said he was confident the team would do what it takes to bring Higgins back.

"Those discussions are ongoing," Burrow said, per ESPN's Ben Baby. "I'm confident that I think we're going to do what it takes to bring Tee back."

He also added: "I know that I'm going to do what it takes to get him back and so is he. We've had those talks. Those are going to be offseason discussions. But I think we're excited about that opportunity."

So it's clear that the superstar franchise quarterback wants Higgins to return. But Higgins is going to get paid whenever he hits the open market. He currently has a market value of $18.8 million over five seasons, per Spotrac.

Despite being a WR2 alongside superstar Ja'Marr Chase, Higgins has 302 receptions for 4,265 yards and 29 touchdowns in his first 66 career games.

Higgins does have a history of injuries that have unfortunately sidelined him at times this year. He missed the team's first two games with a hamstring ailment before sitting three more with a quad injury. But he's never had a long-term ailment and is on pace to play at least 12 games in each of his first five seasons.

Burrow obviously wants him back, and that could perhaps influence the Bengals in opening the bank for him to do so. But Cincinnati also has to pay Chase, who has one year remaining left on his rookie deal after this season. He'll assuredly reset the wideout market and then some after a phenomenal year, and the Bengals also have work to do to fix a defense that's allowed the fourth-most points per game in football.

So we'll see soon enough if something gets done in Cincinnati, but Higgins will be highly sought after regardless. Until then, the Bengals look to keep their playoff hopes alive Sunday when they visit the Tennessee Titans.