Cincinnati Bengals WR Tee Higgins is in the final season of his rookie deal, and time is running out to capitalize on his contract year. Here is why it is now or never for the four-year veteran to increase his upcoming pay day.
Cincinnati announced on Monday that WR Ja’Marr Chase is likely to miss some time after having a MRI on his separated shoulder, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. He will be sidelined for at least this week’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers (7-7) and maybe beyond that.
Thus, now is Higgins’ chance to demonstrate his ability to be a WR1. Rightfully so, Higgins has always been the backup to Chase, but with Chase out of the picture, he will suddenly be the top choice.
From 2020 to 22 the 24-year-old caught 215 passes for 3,028 yards and 19 touchdowns in his NFL debut. But in 10 games this year, he has only managed 36 receptions for 497 yards and four touchdowns.
Of course, his injury-plagued season and the loss of quarterback Joe Burrow to a season-ending injury must be considered, but Jake Browning, the backup quarterback, has been playing excellently lately.
With a salary of $30 million annually, wide receiver Tyreek Hill of the Miami Dolphins is now the highest paid player in the league.
It seems improbable that Higgins will get a deal that size. In actuality, Spotrac projects that he will only make roughly $16.4 million a season. But if he has a great end to his 2023 campaign, he might make an impact and increase it to $20 million or more year.
It’s unclear if the Bengals will be able to pay him after making Burrow the highest-paid quarterback in the league, but if the money doesn’t work out for them, they can franchise tag and trade Burrow.
Higgins’ opportunity to play Pittsburgh, which has allowed 25 points a game over the previous three weeks, is now or never.
