Best 2025 NFL Free-Agency, Draft Options for WR-Needy Teams If Tee Higgins Gets Tag

For many wide receiver-needy NFL teams, Tee Higgins is the crown jewel of the upcoming free-agency class. Unfortunately for these clubs, there's still a chance the Cincinnati Bengals star remains with his current team.

The Bengals failed to work out a long-term extension with the 26-year-old last year, opting instead to franchise-tag him after his rookie contract ran up. It cost Cincinnati nearly $22 million to retain him for 2024, and his 2025 salary will rise north of $26 million if the Bengals choose to tag him for a second consecutive year.

While that is a hefty cost to pay, it would still be a relative bargain for Cincinnati. According to Jeremy Fowler, a "majority of team personnel" who the ESPN insider spoke with believe Higgins would clear $30 million per year if he hits the open market.

If Higgins does get tagged—the window for doing so begins on Tuesday and runs until March 4—the decision will have a massive ripple effect around the league.

Teams hoping to sign him, such as the New England Patriots and Tennessee Titans, will have to adjust their strategies and pivot to backup options who can help fill the major holes in their respective receiving corps.

Fortunately for these receiver-starved squads, there are plenty of other options available this offseason. With four wideouts ranking in the top 20 of the B/R Scouting Department’s prospect big board and two other veterans joining Higgins within the top 25 of the site's top free-agent list, there isn't a shortage of alternatives to explore.

Let's take a closer look at the players teams may turn to if Higgins gets taken out of the picture via the franchise tag.

Tetaiora McMillan is the best pure receiver in the 2025 NFL draft class.

That status is evident in his B/R Scouting Department grade of 9.0, a score that rates as the fourth-best in the class and first among the handful of elite WR prospects who are hoping to hear their name called on Day 1.

McMillan is coming off an outstanding collegiate career at Arizona. He established himself as one of the nation's top receivers over the last two seasons, finishing that stretch with an eye-popping 174 receptions for 2,721 yards and 18 touchdowns across 25 contests.

There’s little reason to believe the 21-year-old will stumble at the next level. He possesses both unteachable qualities—packing immense strength and speed into a 6'5", 212-pound frame—and well-honed skills that include crisp route-running abilities and a massive catch radius.

McMillan was utilized just about everywhere in the Wildcats' offense and thrived regardless of whether he lined up at the X, Z or slot. That versatility, along with a knack for getting open and coming up with jump balls, are traits that will allow him to continue generating heavy volume in the NFL.

Any team that wants to secure McMillan must be prepared to expend a high pick in the first round. The B/R Scouting Department recently mocked him to the New York Jets at No. 7 overall, but it would hardly be a shock if the Arizona product comes off the board even earlier.

Whichever team lands Tre Harris in the 2025 draft should have one of its outside receiver roles sorted for the foreseeable future.

The 22-year-old can be found near the top of big boards everywhere on the heels of yet another sterling season. He's been on scouts' radars ever since a breakout 2022 season at Louisiana Tech—one in which he racked up 935 yards and 10 scores on 65 receptions—and continued to dominate after transferring to Ole Miss ahead of the 2023 season.

In 20 career games with the Rebels, Harris tallied 114 catches for 2,015 yards and 15 touchdowns. He breeched the 1,000-yard mark for the first time this past season and would have had even more impressive metrics if not for a late-November groin injury cutting his final campaign short.

Standing a sturdy 6'3", 210 pounds, he has more than adequate size to work as an X receiver at the NFL level. He may not be the fastest prospect in the class and lacks explosive burst off the line of scrimmage, but his elite route-running capabilities, impressive body control and sticky hands make up for those shortcomings.

Harris should quickly become a catch machine in the pros. He's going to rack up first downs and big gains thanks to his ability to haul in anything sent his way and can also take off for additional yardage once the ball is secured.

The B/R Scouting Department is high on Harris for these reasons and plenty more, giving him a strong 8.1 grade that places him inside the top 15 of their latest big board and rates behind only Tetairoa McMillan at the WR position.

Given he's not projected to get selected until late in the first round—the B/R Scouting Department has Harris going No. 29 overall to the Washington Commanders in their post-Super Bowl mock.

A franchise that misses out on Tee Higgins could not only end up getting a fantastic consolation prize with Harris but also a great draft-day value.

Tee Higgins isn't the only high-end receiver whose contract expires this offseason. Chris Godwin is also set to hit the open market next month and could end up being an even more productive pickup than his Cincinnati Bengals counterpart over the next few years.

Although Godwin ranks lower on most free-agent big boards—he's the No. 13 overall prospect for Bleacher Report—he's far more accomplished in the NFL than Higgins.

Since entering the league as a third-round pick in 2017, Godwin has amassed 579 receptions for 7,266 yards and 39 touchdowns. He earned a Pro Bowl nod for a career-best campaign in 2019—one in which he went off for 1,333 yards and nine scores on 86 catches—and won a Super Bowl ring while working as one of Tom Brady's favorite targets the following season.

While Godwin has been exceedingly productive when he's on the field, he's also missed a slew of time with injury.

Since emerging as a full-time starter in 2019, the 28-year-old has suited up for a full season just once. While that occurred in 2023, he wasn't able to put his injury woes behind him and had a 2024 campaign cut short by an ankle dislocation in Week 7.

Availability concerns will likely lead to Godwin signing a deal that is relatively incongruent with his potential contributions. Spotrac estimates the wideout's market value at a meager $22.5 million annually, a bargain price for a player of his caliber.

Although a club will have to roll the dice on Godwin making a full recovery this offseason, there's a good chance he winds up being a fantastic value. Any team that was planning to make a run at Higgins should be willing to take the risk.

Emeka Egbuka arrived on Ohio State campus four years ago as the top wide receiver recruit in the country.

While he struggled to consistently live up to that lofty billing due to injuries and inconsistent quarterback play in Columbus, he is still on track to become a quality NFL receiver.

After being utilized sparingly as a freshman, Egbuka burst out for the Buckeyes in Year 2—going off for 1,151 yards and 10 touchdowns on 74 catches. His junior campaign was marred by injury, but he returned to form and helped the program win a national championship in 2024 while posting an 81-reception, 1,011-yard, 10-score stat line across 16 games.

The 22-year-old consistently showed out against the best opponents under the brightest lights. One of his finest performances last year was a 10-catch, 93-yard, one-touchdown outing against a tough Oregon side, and he also scored touchdowns in both the College Football Playoff semifinal and championship games.

Egbuka's upside and CFP explosion have set the stage for him to become a Day 1 pick. He possesses arguably the best route-running skills of any WR in the 2025 class in addition to moving extremely fluidly for a 6'1", 205-pound receiver.

Add in a willingness to go across the middle and battle for contested grabs, and you have the makeup of a great player who can dominate the short and middle ranges of the field at the next level.

The Bleacher Report Scouting Department gave Egbuka an 8.0 grade (tying for the third-highest mark a receiver earned this year) and rated him as their No. 19 overall prospect. The site also recently mocked him to the Pittsburgh Steelers at No. 21 overall, a spot that may even be too low for a player with so much potential.

Amari Cooper isn't reaching free agency at an opportunistic time, but there's still hope the veteran can provide a spark for his next employer.

The 30-year-old is coming off a trying 2024 season that saw him struggle on two different rosters, finishing the year with a pedestrian 44 catches for 547 yards and four touchdowns.

Cooper will now be looking for his fifth team since entering the league as the No. 4 overall pick in 2015.

While he performed at a high level that year—recording 72 catches for 1,250 yards and five touchdowns—the collapse of Cleveland’s quarterback position in 2024 resulted in the wideout slumping before being dealt to the Buffalo Bills at the trade deadline.

Although he had a chance to play with the league MVP in Josh Allen, Cooper failed to mesh with the Buffalo offense and finished his brief tenure having caught just 20 balls for 297 yards and two touchdowns over eight contests.

He was a non-factor in the postseason as well, only securing six of his eight targets for 41 yards and a score in three games.

Despite the downturn, there's reason to believe he has some tread left on his tires and could be rejuvenated by yet another change of scenery. Cooper is only a year removed from the latest of his five career Pro Bowl nods and has thrived at every stop he's made outside of Buffalo.

Signing Cooper will likely cost around half of what a Tee Higgins franchise tag will run the Bengals. That's a low price for a player still potentially capable of putting up comparable numbers in the right system.

Given his $14.2 million market value, Cooper is extremely affordable for a top-25 free agent—the third-highest ranked receiver on B/R's big board. He may not have too many good years left in the league, but he could still be an ideal stopgap for a Super Bowl hopeful over the next few seasons.