Tee Higgins Shares His Take on NFL’s Greatest Wide Receivers After Securing Major Contract
The Cincinnati Bengals made a significant commitment to their offensive future this offseason by signing star wide receiver Tee Higgins to a substantial four-year, $115 million contract. This decision demonstrates the team’s dedication to maintaining their explosive offensive core rather than letting Higgins test the waters of free agency. The substantial investment not only secures Higgins’ place in Cincinnati for the foreseeable future but also elevates expectations for his performance. With a contract that places him among the highest-paid receivers in the league, Higgins will be expected to consistently deliver elite-level production on the field. His career statistics through five seasons already tell an impressive story: 70 games played, 330 receptions, 4,595 receiving yards, and 34 touchdowns. As he prepares for the 2025 season, both the organization and fans anticipate him taking another step forward in his development.
In a recent conversation with NFL insider Jordan Schultz, Higgins revealed his personal ranking of the greatest wide receivers in NFL history. His list begins with Jerry Rice in the top position, a selection that few would dispute given Rice’s unparalleled career statistics and championship pedigree. Higgins placed Randy Moss as his second choice, acknowledging the former Viking and Patriot’s game-changing abilities and spectacular highlight reel. For his third and fourth selections, Higgins named Julio Jones and A.J. Green respectively, with Green’s inclusion perhaps reflecting some hometown bias given his illustrious career with the Bengals. Interestingly, Higgins couldn’t decide on a single player for the fifth position, instead naming a trio of receivers with the same surname: Chad Johnson, Calvin Johnson, and Andre Johnson. This thoughtful ranking provides insight into which players have influenced Higgins’ approach to the position and whom he admires most in NFL history.
The substantial investment in Higgins represents just one part of the Bengals’ commitment to building an elite offense around quarterback Joe Burrow. Cincinnati has assembled one of the NFL’s most formidable receiving tandems, with Ja’Marr Chase joining Higgins to form a nearly unstoppable duo for opposing defenses. The organization doubled down on this strategy by also extending Chase with an even more substantial four-year, $161 million contract during the same offseason. These twin commitments signal the Bengals’ clear offensive philosophy: surround their franchise quarterback with elite weapons and prioritize scoring through an explosive passing attack. With both receivers now secured long-term, Cincinnati has established stability for their offensive identity while creating one of the league’s most dangerous aerial attacks.
For Higgins personally, the new contract represents both security and challenge. The financial commitment from the team acknowledges his contributions thus far while simultaneously raising the bar for his future performance. Throughout his young career, Higgins has demonstrated tremendous potential, using his 6’4″ frame to dominate smaller defensive backs and showcasing reliable hands in crucial situations. However, with elite-level compensation comes elite-level expectations. Higgins will now be judged alongside the very best receivers in the game, those commanding similar salaries across the league. This upcoming season offers him the perfect opportunity to justify the team’s investment and perhaps begin building the kind of legacy that might one day place him among the greats he himself admires.
The Bengals’ offensive potential for the upcoming season appears limitless with their core pieces secured. Joe Burrow, when healthy, has already demonstrated his ability to orchestrate one of the league’s most productive passing attacks. With Higgins and Chase stretching defenses vertically and horizontally, Cincinnati should once again field an offense that ranks among the NFL’s most explosive units. The pressure now shifts to the coaching staff to maximize these talents and to the defense to provide enough support to translate offensive fireworks into consistent victories. For Bengals fans, the retention of Higgins represents more than just keeping a talented player—it signals the organization’s commitment to maintaining championship contention after their recent Super Bowl appearance.
As Higgins enters this new phase of his career with financial security and elevated expectations, his ranking of the all-time great receivers provides an interesting window into his professional aspirations. By identifying Jerry Rice, Randy Moss, and others as the pinnacle of wide receiver excellence, Higgins has established the benchmarks against which he likely measures his own development. While he has considerable ground to cover before entering conversations about the greatest receivers in NFL history, his combination of physical tools, situation, and now long-term security creates the perfect foundation for continued growth. The 2025 season will be particularly telling as Higgins adjusts to his new status as one of the league’s highest-paid receivers. Bengals fans will be watching eagerly to see if their investment yields the elite production the team clearly believes Higgins is capable of delivering for years to come.
