With 2025 NFL free agency right around the corner, ESPN ranked the top 50 pending free agents (subscription required).

Former Clemson star Tee Higgins came in at No. 1 overall in ESPN’s ranking of the best players currently slated to become unrestricted free agents this offseason.

The now 26-year-old wideout dealt with injuries in 2024 but was still highly productive when on the field, while playing under the franchise tag with the Cincinnati Bengals.

“Higgins is just entering his prime playing years and is our top free agent for the 2025 class,” ESPN wrote. “At 6-foot-4 and 219 pounds, he can win on the boundary or create matchups from inside alignments. And despite playing alongside Ja’Marr Chase in Cincinnati, Higgins is the closest thing to a No. 1 receiver in this year’s group. Injuries limited him to 12 games in 2024, yet he still finished with 73 receptions for 911 yards. His 10 touchdown catches tied for sixth most in the league.”

Although he missed some games in 2024, Higgins did his best to battle through injury issues despite the uncertainty surrounding his future and the fact he has yet to secure a long-term contract.

After making over $21 million in 2024, Higgins looks poised for a huge payday this offseason regardless of whether it’s from the Bengals or the highest bidder.

“Some executives are skeptical that Cincinnati can pay both Higgins and Chase,” ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler wrote. “‘It’s possible, but would require some significant trade-offs,’ an AFC exec said. ‘They will have close to $70 million a year tied up in receivers, plus the quarterback cost.’ I think it makes more sense to go the cheap route, especially given the improvements they need to make on defense.”

Higgins has amassed 330 catches for 4,595 yards and 34 touchdowns over his first five NFL seasons (2020-24) after being selected by the Bengals in the second round (33rd overall) of the 2020 NFL Draft.

The free agency signing period officially begins at 4 p.m. ET on March 12. Prior to that, during the negotiation period from March 10 to 3:59 p.m. ET on March 12, clubs are permitted to contact, and enter into contract negotiations with the certified agents of players who will become unrestricted free agents upon the expiration of their 2024 player contracts at 4 p.m. ET on March 12.