The time is coming for the Cincinnati Bengals to put up or shut up when it comes to wide receiver Tee Higgins, who is slated to hit free agency after playing out the 2024 campaign on the $21.8 million franchise tag.
The decision to bring Higgins back isn’t an easy one because the Bengals will have to pay No. 1 wideout Ja’Marr Chase major money and the team may not want to allocate a huge chunk of its salary cap to two wide receivers.
It’s for that reason that many believe Higgins will be playing elsewhere in 2025. And, with that in mind, Bleacher Report’s Matt Holder thinks the Carolina Panthers will be the landing spot for Higgins in free agency.
“Especially if Thielen gets cut, adding a young No. 1 receiver for Young should be one of Carolina’s top priorities in free agency,” he wrote. “Higgins will be one of the best wideouts on the open market with 330 receptions for 4,595 yards and 34 career touchdowns in his five-year career.
“The soon-to-be 26-year-old is going to be looking for two things this spring; a lucrative contract and an opportunity to be a top target after playing second fiddle to Ja’Marr Chase,” Holder added. “With some financial maneuvering, the Panthers can provide the wideout with both.”
Higgins has been the Bengals’ No. 2 since the arrival of Chase, but he has proven he has the goods to be a No. 1 wide receiver, something the Panthers need. Higgins would provide a massive upgrade for Bryce Young, who seems to have found his footing after a strong finish to the 2024 campaign.
The biggest concern with Higgins is his injury history. Higgins has only played a full season once, and he’s missed 10 games combined over the past two seasons. That’s something all suitors will have to weigh.
Carolina is projected to have just $29.1 million in cap space this year, but that number shoots up in 2026 to a whopping $150.1 million. Thus, the Panthers have the means and motivation to get a long-term deal done with Higgins.
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