Tee Higgins is shaping as much as be one of many NFL’s most sought-after free brokers heading into the 2025 offseason. The 25-year-old is broadly regarded for his elite ability set, placing him in a first-rate place for a large payday. Because the 2024 common season nears its finish, analysts unanimously imagine that he’ll reset the huge receiver market.
Tee Higgins to Break the NFL Free Company Market?
NFL insider Jordan Schultz just lately emphasised Higgins’ strengthening fame within the league. He defined how his highly effective efficiency has raised his value, particularly with excessive stats up to now seven video games. The Fox NFL Insider tweeted:
“Higgins… may have a considerable market this offseason, and his value has solely elevated.” That’s some appreciation for the Cincinnati Bengals star’s excellent performances throughout a seven-game stretch wherein he posted 44 receptions, 599 yards, and eight touchdowns.
#Bengals WR Tee Higgins has been on a large heater over the previous seven video games:
▪️ 44 receptions▪️ 599 yards▪️ 8 TDs
Higgins, who’s an impending free agent, may have a considerable market this offseason, and his value has solely gone up. Cincinnati wish to retain him… pic.twitter.com/NQJ3vtXn8e
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) December 30, 2024
Higgins’ constant potential to ship in huge moments has made him a marquee title. The Clemson alumnus has excelled regardless of sharing targets with Bengals famous person Ja’Marr Chase. Over his first three seasons, Higgins averaged over 1,000 receiving yards, demonstrating the flexibility, palms, and physicality that make him a WR1 on virtually any workforce.
His latest career-best efficiency towards the Denver Broncos, amassing 11 receptions for 131 yards and three touchdowns and together with the game-winning seize in additional time, solely constructed his fame as a game-changer in clutch conditions.
Nevertheless, the Bengals are going through a big problem in retaining him. Ja’Marr Chase is anticipated to command a record-setting extension, and Higgins’ projected worth exceeding $25 million yearly is straining Cincinnati’s monetary flexibility. Schultz’s report fuels the idea that Higgins’ time in Cincinnati is nearing an finish.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler has famous that the franchise tag, projected at $26.2 million for Higgins, appears unlikely for use, making him a first-rate candidate to check the open market.
Unsurprisingly, shops throughout the league have unanimously ranked Higgins as the highest free agent heading into 2025. Groups desperately want a playmaking huge receiver and are already positioning themselves to land him.
Higgins has all the things meaning measurement, velocity, reliability, and a confirmed monitor report of delivering in high-pressure situations. Analysts name him the participant almost definitely to rework an offense subsequent season, per Yahoo Sports activities, because the offseason approaches.
Higgins has undeniably change into the face of this 12 months’s free-agent class. His departure from Cincinnati appears inevitable, however the place he lands may shift the league’s energy dynamics.
The Bengals Offense Has Thrived
PFN’s offense rankings mix statistics comparable to yards per play, factors per drive, turnover proportion, success price towards the run and go, third-down conversion price, red-zone effectivity, strain proportion when not blitzing, and numerous anticipated factors added (EPA) measures towards each the run and go. These are then weighted accordingly to supply our rankings for every season.
The 8-8 Cincinnati Bengals could be probably the most explosive workforce within the historical past of the game with such a report. Joe Burrow’s newest onslaught got here in Week 17, with three touchdowns (all to Tee Higgins) and 412 passing yards resulting in the Bengals’ third one-score win in 10 tries this season.
Via 17 weeks, Cincinnati ranks second in go success price (behind the Lions), with Burrow eclipsing 40 passing touchdowns for the primary time in his profession. He’s been nothing wanting nice regardless of a run sport that hasn’t been very supportive (twenty fifth in success price).
Chase Brown’s versatility has helped facilitate the eye-popping numbers from this passing sport and creates a degree of beneath manufacturing that may function a complement to a standard run sport. The Bengals will want Brown for his or her Saturday Week 18 matchup towards the Steelers after the second-year again injured his ankle on the finish of regulation in Week 1.
A lot about this offense seems to be the a part of a playoff workforce, however there are two sides of the ball, which is what has Cincinnati hoping for a miracle to succeed in the postseason.
