Tee Higgins Rumors: NFL Personnel Expect Bengals Free Agent to Land $30M AAV Contract

Tee Higgins could be due for a massive contract this offseason.

Per ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, the Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver's market is expected to be around $30 million per year.

"The over/under on Bengals receiver Tee Higgins' market is $30 million per season, and the majority of team personnel that I spoke with believe he'll hit or clear the over," Fowler wrote. "The lowest estimate I heard was somewhere slightly above DeVonta Smith's three-year, $75 million deal. The rest saw him breaking into the $30 million range, based on his status as a No. 1-caliber receiver and the number of teams desperate for pass-catching help."

Higgins performed well on his rookie deal and the franchise tag contract the Bengals gave him this season. He had 908 receiving yards and six touchdowns as a rookie before posting back-to-back 1,000-plus receiving yard seasons in 2021 and 2022. He dealt with injuries last season, limiting him to 12 games, 656 yards and five touchdowns.

This season, Higgins once again played just 12 games but racked up 911 yards and 10 touchdowns. He posted those kinds of numbers while playing behind the Bengals' No. 1 option Ja'Marr Chase, who led the league in receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns this year.

Assuming Higgins is given the reigns as a No. 1 receiver, he could put some of the best numbers in the league.

It seems Higgins has no plans to elongate his free agency this offseason. The Athletic's Dianna Russini reported on her podcast, Scoop City, that Higgins "wants to have an answer" about his contract "very soon."

That could give the advantage to the Bengals since they'll be working from the inside.

Staying in Cincinnati might prevent Higgins from being the No. 1 option, but he, Chase and Burrow have had past success and could perhaps be the trio that brings the Bengals a championship.

As much as staying loyal to a team might appeal to Higgins, a massive contract from another team might be too much to turn down.