Believe it or not, there are other NFL teams in contract h-e-double hockey sticks besides the Cleveland Browns. One just so happens to be a few towns over in Cincinnati.
For a consecutive year, the Bengals and No. 2 wide receiver Tee Higgins are at odds over a contract.
One season ago, Cincinnati placed its franchise tag on Higgins – worth $21.8 million – when the sides could not come to a new deal. Although the price could increase, the Bengals are prepared to use it for a second consecutive year, per multiple sources.
The Bengals have until March 4 to place the tag – that would pay Higgins $26.2 million, a 120% increase from the last tag. The window for placing the tag opens Tuesday.
Speaking of one year remaining on deals, Higgins’ counterpart Ja’Marr Chase is entering the last year of his contract. ESPN reports that Chase “will be seeking to become the highest-paid wide receiver in NFL history, in a deal that could average close to $40 million per season.”
And so is defensive end Trey Hendrickson, who led the NFL in sacks last season. Hendrickson has tallied 17.5 sacks in each of the last two seasons yet is only the 11th-highest paid defensive end as of the middle of February.
While it seems Hendrickson is the most likely to not get a new contract with the Bengals, especially after requesting a trade in April, is that the smartest scenario Cincinnati should invest in?
You know when you play fantasy football and the little red plus sign appears next to a player? Many have read “hamstring” next to Higgins’ name often during his NFL career. Higgins has missed five games in each of the past two seasons, both due to hamstring issues.
So, what are the top five most likely landing spots for Higgins heading into the 2025 season?
1) Cincinnati Bengals
Now that the Bengals have tipped their hand and said they’re focused on a long-term deal, hoping a franchise tag won’t be needed, (NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero), publicly it looks as though the ball is in Higgins’ court.
At this point, knowing the likelihood of a future Chase trade is next to zero, Cincinnati seems to favor Chase/Higgins over Hendrickson and its struggling defense.
Higgins hit a career-high in touchdowns during the 2024-25 season (10), has hit more than 900 yards in four of five seasons – including two 1,000-yard seasons – and could arguably help make the NFL’s best receiving one-two punch.
2) New England Patriots
Patriots fans are getting antsy for their team to head back to its winning ways. Now, with Mike Vrabel under the helm in replace of the failed Jerod Mayo experience, I expect New England to be somewhat aggressive in the offseason.
While I do expect a running back to be at the forefront of Vrabel’s mind, New England can no longer justify its Demario Douglas–Kayshon Boutte–Kendrick Bourne starting wideouts.
Boutte was the only receiver to record a 100-yard game last season, and that came in a meaningless Week 18 game against Buffalo.
New England has the most salary cap space in the NFL currently, with more than $121 million it can use. It’s very possible the Patriots office sees a way to build the team around quarterback Drake Maye and a 26-year-old, 900-plus yard receiver with five years of experience.
3) Las Vegas Raiders
Coming in right behind New England with available cap space are the Raiders.
New head coach Pete Carroll previously thrived in Seattle with a two-headed monster in the receiving game, really giving a name to guys such as Tyler Lockett and D.K. Metcalf.
At best, Las Vegas currently has half a head of a two-headed monster in Jakobi Meyers. The Raiders best receiving threat for 2025, as of now, could be second-year tight end Brock Bowers. A beast of a tight end presence may work for Kansas City, but it will not be a successful long-term plan in Las Vegas.
Snagging a receiver in the offseason ahead of April’s NFL Draft could allow the Raiders their most successful approach at a receiving corps.
Also mirroring New England, Las Vegas’ run game is also struggling.
Carroll had a successful receiving corps along with running back Marshawn Lynch. Las Vegas, who has more than $92 million in available cap space, have the means to get a veteran back and trade for Higgins to significantly help its offense.
4) Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals are likely the wild card of Roto Street Journal’s top five landing spots, but when you look at the team’s roster and current contracts paired with the available cap, it works.
Arizona has locked up James Conner for an additional two years while backup Trey Benson remains on his rookie contract. Marvin Harrison Jr. is also playing on his rookie contract for multiple years to come, and beyond that, are looking for a secondary option. Much like Las Vegas, Arizona’s tight end, Trey McBride, still remains on his rookie contract, too.
Higgins would be a major upgrade from Michael Wilson, Greg Dortch and Zay Jones.
The Cardinals have more than $63 million in available cap, the sixth-most in the NFL.
5) Carolina Panthers
We fully believe Adam Thielen when he says he intends to play his 12th season in the league this year at age 34. But obviously, he isn’t the Panthers’ long-term plan.
After Thielen, Carolina is no doubt hoping Xavier Legette continues to build on his rookie season that saw him score four touchdowns despite not reaching 50 catches. However, he was one away from 50 and three yards away from 500 and the third-string option for half the season when Diontae Johnson dawned the blue and black.
Aside from long grabs and a touchdown here and there, Jalen Coker didn’t shine and David Moore was much of the same.
Unlike New England and Las Vegas, Carolina has its rushing attack locked down. The Panthers signed Chuba Hubbard to to an extension and its (hopefully still) promising rookie from last season, Jonathon Brooks, still has years left on his rookie deal.
While Carolina does have some work to do on the salary cap front, it has more than $18 million to divvy out as of February.
Honorable mention landing spots
Roto Street Journal also was on the cusp of launching Denver, Tennessee, New Orleans and Green Bay into the realm of possibilities for Higgins, but opted not to.
Denver likely sticks with developing its younger players, while Tennessee still has a high ceiling with Calvin Ridley, Nick Westrbook-Ikhine and possibly former Bengal Tyler Boyd.
Meanwhile, New Orleans is the worst in the NFL with needing to burn more than $60 million in salary cap just to break even. Green Bay on the other hand, in theory, does have four receivers it can use as starters; they’re just constantly plagued by injuries, but consistent enough to make its offense work.
