After missing time with injuries in the 2024-25 NFL season, one of the Cincinnati Bengals’ most important offensive stars came back when it mattered most.
On Tuesday, he landed on the NFL’s Top-100 Players list.
Coming in with the No. 77 ranking, Tee Higgins claims a spot ahead of a few notable wide receivers from around the league like Jerry Jeudy (No. 82), Drake London (No. 97) and Ladd McConkey (No. 100).
“Tee Time, Tee Time, Tee Time! Higgins makes his debut in the Top 100 list,” Christian Gonzales of NFL.com wrote. “The Bengals WR took a chance on playing on the franchise tag, and his NFL peers noticed Higgins’ performance took a step forward. Injuries did limit Higgins’ availability, but he was a key contributor in Cincy’s offense alongside Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase. The trio will have a chance to showcase their offensive talent in 2025 with Higgins and Chase earning a nice pay bump in the summer.
NFL Pro Insight for Higgins: Tee Higgins caught eight touchdowns on targets between the numbers last season, tied with teammate Ja’Marr Chase and Amon-Ra St. Brown for the most among wide receivers. Higgins had totaled 11 such touchdowns across his four prior seasons combined, including just one such touchdown in 2022 and 2023.”
It’s somewhat of a surprise for a player who missed five games and wasn’t at full strength early in the season when the Bengals endured struggles. That said, it’s clear that NFL players simply view Higgins as one of the toughest matchups in the game.
Higgins’ Late-Season Resurgence
By the time Week 17 rolled around last season, the Bengals were hanging on by a thread in the AFC playoff race. Higgins delivered his best performance of the season, hauling in 11 passes for 131 yards and three touchdowns — giving Cincinnati a last chance for a playoff appearance.
“When I think of Tee, I think of him more of a receiver, you know what I’m saying like Ja’Marr, a ball player,” Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman said. “Tee is a guy that we’ll depend on. His size, his route-running ability, his catching. Not the YAC part of the receiver game.”
Despite missing time throughout the year, Higgins finished the 2024-25 campaign with 73 receptions for 911 yards and 10 touchdowns. In 12 games, he averaged 76 yards per contest. If health permits, there’s no good reason why he can’t be a yearly 1,000-plus yard pass catcher.
What Bengals Fans Should Expect
In March 2025, after playing the previous season on the franchise tag, Higgins inked a four-year, $115 million contract extension to stay with the Bengals. The deal removes any concern about his future as one of the true co-stars in Cincy.
“Played Tee last year,” Los Angeles Chargers All-Pro safety Derwin James Jr. said. “Big-body receiver. He’s going to possess the catches and he can also run the routes too. I like Tee’s game a lot.”
For those who still view the 26-year-old as a WR2 in the NFL, think again. He doesn’t play like one, he doesn’t get paid like one .. And he certainly isn’t ranked like one.
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