The Pittsburgh Steelers are in major need of help at the wide receiver position, and with the 2025 free-agent class stacked with talent, they have the chance to make a big splash. Among the stars available is Tee Higgins, the Cincinnati Bengals' standout wide receiver. Despite the Bengals' efforts to retain him, salary cap concerns loom large, making it unclear whether they can afford to keep all their key players. This uncertainty has led many pundits to believe that Higgins could be one of the most sought-after free agents in 2025.
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Bengals' Tee Higgins looks on before an away game.
The Bengals have made it clear they don't want to move on from Higgins, but with their financial situation in flux, keeping him might be a challenge. This opens the door for other teams to swoop in and potentially steal him away in free agency. The Steelers, with their glaring need for a top-tier wide receiver, have naturally been linked to Higgins as a potential landing spot. The question on many minds is just how much it would take to pry him away from Cincinnati.
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler recently revealed the price tag Higgins is likely to command on the open market, providing Steelers fans with a clearer picture of what they could be up against if they want to add him to the wide receiver corps in the Steel City. With the market for star receivers heating up, the Steelers may need to dig deep into their pockets if they’re serious about landing a game-changer like Higgins for the 2025 season.
"The over/under on Bengals receiver Tee Higgins’ market is $30 million per season, and the majority of team personnel that I spoke with believe he’ll hit or clear the over," Fowler said.
That price tag isn’t surprising, as many consider Higgins to be one of the top wide receivers in the NFL, making him worth a hefty payday. Coming off another strong season, Higgins has acknowledged how fortunate he is to play in the Bengals’ high-powered offense featuring Joe Burrow, one of the best quarterbacks in the league, and Ja'Marr Chase, one of the top wideouts.
Being surrounded by such talent has certainly helped Higgins remain productive, but that doesn’t mean he is ready to take a significant pay cut to stay in that exact situation.
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Cincinnati Bengals' Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins taking the field before a home game.
This opens up a clear opportunity for the Steelers to make a move for Higgins. Many fans view this as a must-have situation, similar to when Omar Khan worked tirelessly to finalize a trade with the San Francisco 49ers for star wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. The deal was reportedly close on several occasions, but ultimately, it never came to fruition.
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Now, with the potential to land a proven playmaker like Higgins, the Steelers could once again find themselves in the position to make a bold move. Given their dire need at wide receiver, adding Higgins could transform their offense and make them serious contenders in 2025. Higgins had 73 catches for 911 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns in 2024. Those numbers were very productive, especially considering he played in just 12 games in 2024.
Now, the Steelers and Khan have a chance to redeem themselves. Adding Higgins and pairing him with George Pickens would create a lethal combination that could take the offense to new heights. Steelers fans have been increasingly frustrated with the team's offensive struggles, but securing Higgins would be a major step in the right direction—though it would come at a steep price.
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Steelers' George Pickens takes his helmet off during loss to the Browns in Week 12 of the 2024 season.
It’s fascinating to see that Higgins is expected to command well over $30 million a year. It will be interesting to track how teams evaluate his talent and what kind of offers he’ll receive. The Steelers are likely to pursue a deal with Higgins, and fans will be watching closely, eager to see what moves the team makes as they work to break their playoff drought and build a more competitive roster.
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