Tee Higgins prefers not to be known as the highest-paid No. 2 receiver

When Bengals receivers JaMarr 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 doesnt want to be known as Cincinnatis second fiddle.

I dont 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 wouldnt have put it out there like that, because now thats what everybodys saying, Im the highest-paid two.

Lets just say Im at a place where they value me and they respect me and Im a good player.

Lets just say that.

Not the highest receiver two or anything like that.

Lets just say hes another great Bengals receiver that puts in the work and got his head down and just grinds.

Chase characterized Higgins as the teams 1A receiver.

Which is accurate.

Higgins has performed well when Chase isnt available.

And Higgins would be the No.

1 receiver on most other rosters.

He could have landed that title next year.

If hed 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 Higginss contract puts him on the Bengals payroll, hes 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..

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