Entering the final week of the NFL regular season, ESPN’s NFL Nation reporters identified the biggest contract situation to watch for each team heading into the upcoming offseason.

A couple of Clemson pros were named among those biggest offseason contracts to watch, including Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins.

“Higgins and the Bengals failed to reach a contract extension ahead of the 2023 season, and the future appears uncertain,” ESPN’s Ben Baby wrote. “The receiver has indicated he would like to return to Cincinnati. The issue, however, is how much the Bengals are willing to pay him. Higgins has dealt with injuries over the years but has still produced at a high level. Giving Higgins the franchise tag and potentially looking for a trade partner could also be a viable scenario as the Bengals try to build a roster around quarterback Joe Burrow.”

Injuries have forced Higgins to miss some time in 2023, and entering Week 18 (which he was listed as doubtful for due to a hamstring injury), he had 42 receptions for 656 yards and five touchdowns in 12 games this season.

The 2020 second-round pick (33rd overall) posted back-to-back 1,000-yard receiving campaigns in 2021 and 2022. He has amassed more than 3,600 receiving yards and over 20 touchdowns in his pro career to date.

Another former Tiger — Atlanta Falcons cornerback A.J. Terrell — was named as the Falcons’ biggest offseason contract situation to watch.

“Terrell is under contract on the fifth-year option for 2024 (speaking of which, Atlanta has an interesting decision on the fifth-year option of Kyle Pitts, too) but how the Falcons handle their top cornerback will be something to watch,” ESPN’s Michael Rothstein wrote. “Atlanta was in a similar situation last season with Chris Lindstrom, and the Falcons got a deal done with him right before the start of the new league year. Terrell is one of the league’s bright young corners — he’s allowing a 53.5% completion rate and a passer rating against of 87.3 this season — and has shown himself throughout the past four seasons to be reliable and a true No. 1 corner.”

A first-round pick (16th overall) of the Falcons in 2020, Terrell entered Week 18 having tallied 43 tackles (four for loss) and 10 passes defended in 16 games this season.

Terrell earned second-team All-Pro honors in 2021 and has recorded four interceptions, as well as more than 40 pass breakups, in his NFL career so far.

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