Former NFL general manager Michael Lombardi recently joined The Pat McAfee Show to discuss the future of Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins. The talented receiver is set to become a free agent in March and is expected to be highly sought after by receiver-needy teams.
The Bengals drafted Higgins in the second round out of Clemson in 2020. Since then, he has surpassed 1,000 receiving yards twice and recorded 911 receiving yards with a career-high 10 touchdowns in 2024. However, his production is often overshadowed by teammate Ja'Marr Chase, who led the NFL in both receiving yards and touchdowns this past season.
Lombardi was asked if Higgins could become a true No. 1 receiver elsewhere.
"I think he can be," Lombardi responded. "I think they're going to have to move him around. I think he is certainly a dynamic player. And I think if he goes to the right team, where he is, let's call him a one, where he also has an inside slot receiver, a tight end, then I think he becomes a player. Because remember, when you have Chase on the field, everybody's rolling the coverage or trying to double him in some way."
"You put Tee Higgins on a team like the 49ers, my lord." 👀
UNC GM Michael Lombardi on where Tee Higgins could "shine" ahead of NFL free agency ✍? @PatMcAfeeShow pic.twitter.com/z8kL8CMxNR
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) January 30, 2025
Higgins could be wearing a new uniform in 2025, and Lombardi believes someplace like the San Francisco 49ers would be an ideal landing spot.
"I think Tee is really talented," Lombardi explained. "And I think Tee can go somewhere and be a really good player. You put Tee Higgins on a team like the 49ers, my lord. He could end up shining because they've got other players around him, and then he looks really good."
Lombardi added that having Higgins on the 49ers would elevate the team's other offensive stars.
"[WR] Brandon Aiyuk would be even better with someone like Tee or [WR] Deebo [Samuel] or someone there," Lombardi said. "Here's the problem that [Bengals GM] Duke [Tobin] has: Duke's not going to be able to pay what other teams are going to pay because people are going to overpay for Tee Higgins in the sense that they need him."
Ultimately, Higgins' future will come down to what competing teams are willing to offer. He could be a game-changer with the 49ers, but the team will need to manage its salary cap carefully in the coming years, with quarterback Brock Purdy expected to secure the largest contract in franchise history.
H/t to Nick San Miguel of Niner Noise for the find.