Tee Higgins landing spots ranked: Top 5 destinations for Bengals WR in 2025 feat. CJ Stroud's Texans

Tee Higgins and the Cincinnati Bengals failed to reach a contract extension. The wide receiver looks ready to play the upcoming season on a franchise tag. Hence, Higgins is expected to be at the Bengals' training camp when veterans resume on July 23, 2024. Through the franchise tag, Higgins will earn $21.8 million fully guaranteed in the upcoming season.

Due to Higgins' situation, other teams will likely inquire about getting the speedy pass catcher out on Cincinnati. Here, we will examine five potential destinations heading into 2025.

Top 5 Tee Higgins landing spots

Here's a look at five potential landing spots for Tee Higgins:

5. Houston Texans

The Houston Texans enter 2024 to make a deeper postseason run. They will start the season with a stacked offense for CJ Stroud and $20,206,274 worth of cap space.

The Texans will be eager to add Higgins to a WR room with Stefon Diggs and Tank Bell. They could offer Tee Higgins a chance to compete for a ring in a different environment.

4. New England Patriots

The New England Patriots are entering a new era under head coach Jerod Mayo and will likely want to shed away their defensive reputation. The franchise has already drafted a new quarterback, Drake Maye. It's only right that they give him a proven pass catcher like Tee Higgins to begin his professional career.

According to Spotrac, the Patriots have the most cap space in the league, with $43,763,611. That means paying Higgins should not be a problem for the Robert Kraft-owned franchise.

Higgins will become the instant WR1 if he moves to New England. He'll beat out the likes of Kendrick Bourne, KJ Osborn, DeMario Douglas, Ja'Lynn Polk, Javon Baker and Jalen Reagor with relative ease.

3. Washington Commanders

Here's another team with a rookie quarterback that could do with a talented pass catcher to start his career. Jayden Daniels on the Washington Commanders already has a Pro Bowler wide receiver in Terry McLaurin, but there's no harm in adding to the existing pass-catching options.

The Washington Commanders have $37,016,953 in cap space, ample room to give Higgins the contract he desires in Cincinnati. Providing Daniels with two Pro Bowl-caliber WRs will give him ample room to grow in a pass-first league.

2. New York Jets

The New York Jets know Aaron Rodgers' time as a Pro Bowl-caliber quarterback is quickly ending. The four-time MVP suffered a season-ending Achilles injury last season, perhaps giving the Jets a sign of what's to come. Hence, the sooner the Jets surround Rogers with competent WRs, the better.

Higgins is a proven performer with playoff experience with the Cincinnati Bengals. The New York Jets need such a player on a roster filled with players who have never reached the NFL postseason.

The Jets' dire cap space situation is a significant issue with the potential Tee Higgins trade. According to Over the Cap, the Jets have just $6,254,827 in cap space. That means the team has to do major roster work to accommodate Higgins into an expensively assembled roster.

1. Los Angeles Chargers

The Los Angeles Chargers lost two of their longest-tenured WRs, Keenan Allen and Mike Williams, last off-season. Both players were key components of the team's offense for years. Justin Herbert is left with Joshua Palmer, Quentin Johnston and Ladd McConkey as pass-catching options.

We are as optimistic as the rest on the above three WRs, but these players might not cut it for a team aiming to make some noise in the postseason. Hence, Jim Harbaugh and the Chargers are looking for a proven pass catcher to pair with their superstar QB for the foreseeable future.

Higgins brings the much-needed playoff experience to the roster. He can be a true number one on a contending franchise.

The Chargers have $20,656,935 cap space for the 2024 NFL season and just under $43 million in 2025. They could get Higgins this season and sign him on a long-term contract in 2025 after figuring out Higgins' worth in his prove-it-year.