Tee Higgins prefers not to be known as the highest-paid No. 2 receiver
When Bengals receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins simultaneously agreed to and announced new deals with the team, the implication (given the numbers) was obvious. At $40.25 million per year in new money, Chase is WR1. At $28.75 million per year, Higgins is WR2.
Higgins doesn't want to be known as Cincinnati's second fiddle.
"I don't even look at it like that, you know what I mean?" Higgins told reporters during a joint press conference with Chase announcing their new contracts. "I kind of wish they wouldn't have put it out there like that, because now that's what everybody's saying, 'I'm the highest-paid two.' Let's just say I'm at a place where they value me and they respect me and I'm a good player. Let's just say that. Not the highest receiver two or anything like that. Let's just say he's another great Bengals receiver that puts in the work and got his head down and just grinds."
Chase characterized Higgins as the team's 1A receiver. Which is accurate. Higgins has performed well when Chase isn't available. And Higgins would be the No. 1 receiver on most other rosters.
He could have landed that title next year. If he'd refused to sign a long-term deal, he would have made $26.16 million in 2025 before becoming an unrestricted free agent in 2026.
Regardless of where Higgins's contract puts him on the Bengals payroll, he's now the eighth highest-paid receiver in the NFL, behind only Chase, Justin Jefferson, CeeDee Lamb, A.J. Brown, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Tyreek Hill, and Brandon Aiyuk.
Topics
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Bengals closing in on 'massive contract extensions' with Tee Higgins, Ja'Marr Chase
Both Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins could be receiving massive paydays from the Cincinnati Bengals in the coming days, according to reports.Yahoo Sports - 4d -
Reactions: Bengals' Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins contract extensions done
The Bengals are keeping their talented offensive trio of quarterback Joe Burrow and receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins intact.Yahoo Sports - 2d -
Tee Higgins extension: A look at highest-paid No. 2 WRs in NFL after Bengals star lands record-setting deal
Higgins is becoming the highest paid No. 2 wide receiver in footballCBS Sports - 1d -
Bengals reach extension with Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. Source says Chase will be highest-paid non-QB in NFL history
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Bengals reach extensions with Chase, Higgins
The Bengals have secured two of the NFL's most prominent wide receivers, with Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins telling Fox Sports that they have agreed to contract extensions.ESPN - 1d -
Chase, Higgins reach extensions with Bengals. AP source says Chase will be NFL's highest-paid non-QB
The Cincinnati Bengals have agreed to four-year extensions with receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, assuring that Joe Burrow will have his top two targets with him for some time. A person ...Yahoo Sports - 1d -
Where do Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins's new salaries rank among NFL wide receivers?
The Bengals doled out $276 million to keep Chase and Tee Higgins in Ohio. Here's where that ranks among NFL wideouts.Yahoo Sports - 1d -
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The Bengals are actively working to get both wide receivers, Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins signed as soon as possible, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.ESPN - 4d
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