The New England Patriots are heading into the 2025 offseason with the most cap space in the NFL, giving them the financial flexibility they need to revamp a roster that was the worst in the league last season. With over $100 million to spend, rumors are already linking the team to wide receiver Tee Higgins.
At 26 years old, Higgins has proven himself as a top-tier playmaker with the Cincinnati Bengals. While he was the No. 2 receiver behind Ja’Marr Chase, he set a career high with 10 touchdowns last season.
Cincinnati kept him off the free-agent market last year by using the franchise tag, but it’s not expected to do so again, leaving the door open for Higgins to hit the market and giving New England a shot at landing a No. 1 wideout. However, one insider is casting doubt on this possibility.
On 98.3 The Sports Hub’s Zolak & Bertrand, Albert Breer, senior NFL reporter for Sports Illustrated, expressed skepticism about Higgins choosing New England. He questioned why Higgins would sign with the Patriots, given their current state and the possibility of more appealing offers elsewhere.
While the Patriots have ample cap room to meet Higgins’ potential $30 million-plus annual salary, they’ll face stiff competition from other teams with significant financial resources.
Higgins could choose to stay with Cincinnati, where he’s already thriving on a contender with a strong quarterback in Joe Burrow. The Bengals, with over $46 million in cap space, can make room for Higgins by restructuring Burrow’s deal and making other moves.
The Washington Commanders, with $78 million in cap space and quarterback Jayden Daniels, could also be a potential landing spot. Likewise, the Los Angeles Chargers, armed with one of the NFL’s best quarterbacks and over $60 million in cap space, could be in the mix.
Other teams, like the Green Bay Packers and Denver Broncos, also offer Higgins a solid financial package, a strong quarterback, and a competitive roster. While the Patriots boast the most cap space and a promising quarterback in Drake Maye, they likely won’t be contenders in 2025. If other teams make similar offers, Higgins might be drawn to a team with more immediate playoff potential.
