Tee Higgins signs a four-year contract with the Cincinnati Bengals for the new season. However, new contract details show that the contract is extremely flexible from the Bengals’ point of view – and can easily be terminated after just one year.

The Cincinnati Bengals caused quite a stir in the NFL offseason with a double blow: star receiver Ja’Marr Chase and tight end Tee Higgins each signed new record deals in Cincinnati.

NBC Sports took a closer look at the details of the new contracts. It seems the Bengals have built in some safeguards, particularly in Higgins’ contract.

Because what at first glance looks like a normal four-year contract for $115 million gives Cincinnati plenty of leeway year after year to release the star receiver without financial consequences.

The key point: only a small portion of the $115 million is actually guaranteed.

Higgins will initially receive $20 million this year in the form of an offseason roster bonus. While this amount is not officially guaranteed, it will be due just days after the contract is signed.

Cincinnati Bengals: Tee Higgins has few guarantees in contract

The remaining portions of his 2025 salary – his $13.8 million base salary and other bonuses – are not guaranteed.

Higgins has few guaranteed dollars coming to him in 2026 either. The only guaranteed amount is the $10 million offseason roster bonus for the upcoming season.

According to the report, however, the Bengals have attached an offset clause to this bonus. This states that Cincinnati does not have to pay the amount if Higgins signs a new, better-paid contract with another team.

The Bengals could therefore release Higgins after just one year without taking a great risk of incurring dead cap.

Nevertheless, the new contract is still profitable for Higgins, as he will earn around five million dollars more than he would have done with a franchise tag.