Tee Higgins
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PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - AUGUST 7: Tee Higgins #5 of the Cincinnati Bengals reacts on the sideline during the second half of a NFL Preseason 2025 game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on August 7, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
The Cincinnati Bengals made sure to bring one of their most important offensive weapons back for the future.
Wide receiver Tee Higgins signed a four-year, $115 million contract extension this offseason to remain Ja’Marr Chase’s comrade in the Bengals’ prolific passing attack.
Ahead of his sixth campaign, the 26-year-old route runner is now expected to consistently play at the level of the NFL’s elite, and he’s ready to prove that he’s more than a WR2 for Joe Burrow and Chase.
In 70 appearances, Higgins has tallied 330 receptions for 4,595 yards and 34 touchdowns. Entering the 2025 campaign, he looks to build on a season that saw him miss five games but still finish with 73 receptions for 911 yards and 10 touchdowns.
A late-season surge, including an 11-catch, 131-yard, three-touchdown performance in Week 17, kept the Bengals in playoff contention and reminded the league of just how dominant he can be when healthy.
Higgins Reveals his Top-5
With his contract locked in, Higgins took time this week to answer questions from NFL insider Jordan Schultz — listing his all-time favorite wideouts to ever play the game “in no order.”
Starting with Jerry Rice, widely considered the greatest receiver in NFL history. Second is Randy Moss, followed by Julio Jones and A.J. Green. Rounding out the Top-5, he declared it a three-way tie between Chad (Ochocinco) Johnson, Calvin Johnson and Andre Johnson.
The options make sense for the 6-foot-4 Higgins, as the comparisons of “big-body receivers” are noticeable.
“That’s who I looked at growing up,” Higgins said. “I looked at their game and things like that.”
In 2025, playing alongside Chase and still a favorite target of Burrow’s on most weeks, Higgins is on his way to potentially being named in the category as those legends.
Higgins Voted No. 77 Best Player in NFL
The impact hasn’t been ignored by NFL peers. Earlier this summer, Higgins landed at No. 77 on the NFL Top 100 Players list, ahead of wideouts like Jerry Jeudy and Drake London. And that is while coming off a campaign he was limited for the Bengals.
“Tee Time, Tee Time, Tee Time! Higgins makes his debut in the Top 100 list,” Christian Gonzales of NFL.com wrote. “The Bengals WR took a chance on playing on the franchise tag, and his NFL peers noticed Higgins’ performance took a step forward. Injuries did limit Higgins’ availability, but he was a key contributor in Cincy’s offense alongside Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase. The trio will have a chance to showcase their offensive talent in 2025 with Higgins and Chase earning a nice pay bump in the summer.
NFL Pro Insight for Higgins: Tee Higgins caught eight touchdowns on targets between the numbers last season, tied with teammate Ja’Marr Chase and Amon-Ra St. Brown for the most among wide receivers. Higgins had totaled 11 such touchdowns across his four prior seasons combined, including just one such touchdown in 2022 and 2023.”
With his extension in hand and a full offseason to prepare, Higgins enters 2025 with clear goals. The Bengals’ commitment signals that they see him as a cornerstone next to Burrow and Chase.