Bengals take some heat for Tee Higgins 'overpaid' contract
Bengals take some heat for Tee Higgins 'overpaid' contract
When it comes to the Tee Higgins contract, the Cincinnati Bengals simply can't make everyone happy.
Some have praised the Bengals for overlooked details in the Higgins contract extension. Others dismiss the details and/or just don't agree with paying so much for two wide receivers.
One who dislikes the deal is Bleacher Report's Brad Gagnon, who tabbed Higgins as Cincinnati's most overpaid player based on contract values and his past production:
I wrote in this spot last year that the $21.8 million franchise-tag rate is silly for a player who has never gone over 75 catches, 1,100 yards or seven touchdowns in four non-Pro Bowl campaigns. He did score 10 touchdowns in 2024, but the rest remains true for a player now making $28.8 million per season.
If nothing else, the Bengals' structuring of the contract hints at similar concerns over Higgins' consistent injury woes over the years. The $115 million is an eye-popping figure on the same cap books as Ja'Marr Chase's $40 million per year, but per-game roster bonuses at least protect the team a little.
While controversial for some, the Bengals wanted to get Higgins done at the request of core elements on the roster, headlined by Joe Burrow. In that context, it's all that really matters as the team follows its desired building path.
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