Tee Higgins Inks Four-Year Deal with Bengals: Contract Details Revealed
Cincinnati, OH — wide receiver Tee Higgins has agreed to a new four-year contract with the Cincinnati Bengals, foregoing the franchise tag and a potential shot at unrestricted free agency in 2026.The deal provides a complex structure of bonuses, guarantees, and incentives, offering both security and performance-based earnings for the star receiver.
Key Terms of Tee Higgins’ New Bengals Contract
The contract, spanning from 2025 to 2028, includes significant roster and workout bonuses, base salaries, and per-game roster bonuses. Here’s a breakdown:
- 2025 Roster Bonus: $20 million (due five days after signing).
- 2025 Workout Bonus: $100,000.
- 2025 Base Salary: $13.8 million.
- 2025 Per-Game Active Roster Bonus: $2 million total.
- 2026 Roster Bonus: $10 million (fully guaranteed).
- 2026 Workout Bonus: $100,000.
- 2026 Base Salary: $10.9 million (guaranteed on the fifth day of the 2026 league year).
- 2026 Per-Game Active Roster Bonus: $2 million total.
- 2027 Roster bonus: $5 million.
- 2027 Workout Bonus: $100,000.
- 2027 Base Salary: $19.2 million.
- 2027 Per-Game Active Roster Bonus: $2 million total.
- 2028 Workout Bonus: $500,000.
- 2028 Base Salary: $27.3 million.
- 2028 Per-game Active Roster Bonus: $2 million total.
Incentives and Performance Bonuses
The contract also contains a two-tiered incentive package for each of the four seasons. Higgins can earn:
- $1 million if he participates in at least 65% of offensive plays and the Bengals win the AFC Championship.
- $1.7 million if he participates in at least 65% of offensive plays and the Bengals win the Super Bowl.
Contract Structure: Year-to-Year Adaptability
While the deal is for four years, the bengals maintain substantial flexibility. Only the $10 million roster bonus in 2026 is fully guaranteed at signing. The Bengals could effectively view this as a one-year, $35.9 million deal if Higgins earns all per-game roster bonuses in 2025, or a two-year, $29.45 million contract with an option to move on before the 2026 base salary becomes fully guaranteed.
Financial Implications and Risk
The contract provides Higgins with $9.74 million more than the franchise tag for 2025. However, $8 million of the contract is tied to per-game roster bonuses. With Higgins missing 10 games in the past two seasons, future availability will be a factor.
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Tee Higgins Inks Four-Year Deal with Bengals: Contract Details Revealed
Cincinnati, OH — wide receiver Tee Higgins has agreed to a new four-year contract with the Cincinnati Bengals, foregoing the franchise tag and a potential shot at unrestricted free agency in 2026.The deal provides a complex structure of bonuses, guarantees, and incentives, offering both security and performance-based earnings for the star receiver.
Key Terms of Tee Higgins’ New Bengals Contract
the contract,spanning from 2025 to 2028,includes meaningful roster and workout bonuses,base salaries,and per-game roster bonuses. Here’s a breakdown:
- 2025 Roster Bonus: $20 million (due five days after signing).
- 2025 Workout Bonus: $100,000.
- 2025 Base Salary: $13.8 million.
- 2025 Per-Game Active Roster Bonus: $2 million total.
- 2026 Roster Bonus: $10 million (fully guaranteed).
- 2026 Workout Bonus: $100,000.
- 2026 Base Salary: $10.9 million (guaranteed on the fifth day of the 2026 league year).
- 2026 Per-Game Active Roster Bonus: $2 million total.
- 2027 Roster bonus: $5 million.
- 2027 Workout Bonus: $100,000.
- 2027 Base Salary: $19.2 million.
- 2027 Per-Game Active Roster Bonus: $2 million total.
- 2028 Workout Bonus: $500,000.
- 2028 Base Salary: $27.3 million.
- 2028 Per-game Active Roster Bonus: $2 million total.
Incentives and Performance Bonuses
The contract also contains a two-tiered incentive package for each of the four seasons. Higgins can earn:
- $1 million if he participates in at least 65% of offensive plays and the Bengals win the AFC Championship.
- $1.7 million if he participates in at least 65% of offensive plays and the Bengals win the Super Bowl.
Contract Structure: Year-to-Year Adaptability
While the deal is for four years, the bengals maintain substantial adaptability. Only the $10 million roster bonus in 2026 is fully guaranteed at signing.The Bengals could effectively view this as a one-year, $35.9 million deal if Higgins earns all per-game roster bonuses in 2025, or a two-year, $29.45 million contract with an option to move on before the 2026 base salary becomes fully guaranteed.
Financial Implications and Risk
The contract provides Higgins with $9.74 million more than the franchise tag for 2025. However, $8 million of the contract is tied to per-game roster bonuses. With Higgins missing 10 games in the past two seasons, future availability will be a factor.
Tee Higgins Contract Q&A
Q: How much money is Tee Higgins guaranteed to make?
A: Higgins is guaranteed $30.9 million, including the $20 million roster bonus and $10 million roster bonus in 2026. The 2026 base salary of $10.9 million is also guaranteed.
Q: What are the key dates for the Bengals regarding this contract?
A: The Bengals have a clear decision point before the 2026 season. By the fifth day of the 2026 league year, they must decide whether to guarantee the $10.9 million base salary for that season. They also have an option to move on after the first year.
Q: How do the per-game roster bonuses work?
A: Higgins can earn a total of $2 million each year (2025-2028) based on being on the active roster for each game. The amount earned per game isn’t specified, but the total is $2,000,000 per season.
Q: How can Higgins maximize his earnings?
A: To earn the most, Higgins needs to stay healthy and on the field. He needs to participate in at least 65% of offensive plays and the Bengals need to perform well,to be able to earn the AFC Championship and Super Bowl bonuses,and he needs to be active for every game to earn his per-game roster bonuses.Missing games, as he has in the past, significantly impacts his potential earnings.
Q: What’s the meaning of the workout bonuses?
A: Workout bonuses are a standard part of many NFL contracts. They incentivize players to maintain their fitness and training throughout the year. While the amounts are relatively small compared to other bonuses, they accumulate over the contract’s duration, and are significant in the overall contract value.
With a multi-year contract in place, the Bengals and Tee Higgins have more stability as they aim for a Super Bowl run. the contract is structured to benefit both the player and the team, depending on performance and availability.