Bengals replace Tee Higgins in one of the best possible ways in latest 2025 NFL Mock Draft
When the Cincinnati Bengals take the field in 2025, Tee Higgins will be on another team. It's become increasingly obvious that neither a second franchise tag or an extension to stick around is in the cards for him, which means the Bengals will need to replace him as best as they can.As of now, that […]
When the Cincinnati Bengals take the field in 2025, Tee Higgins will be on another team. It's become increasingly obvious that neither a second franchise tag or an extension to stick around is in the cards for him, which means the Bengals will need to replace him as best as they can.
As of now, that replacement is not on the roster. Jermaine Burton has leagues of improvement to go, and Andrei Iosivas is not long to be a starter based on how his 2024 season is going.
The best route to go down is in the 2025 NFL Draft. In the latest mock draft from A to Z Sports' AJ Schulte, an ideal Higgins replacement could be waiting for the Bengals in the first round.
Bengals select Arizona WR Tetairoa McMillan with the 13th overall pick in the first round
Including receiver/cornerback hybrid Travis Hunter, McMillan was the third receiver and just the sixth offensive player off the board in Schulte's mock draft. Missouri WR Luther Burden III went two picks earlier as the second wideout.
The fit is as simple as it gets. Cincinnati will miss Higgins' catch radius and ability to snag passes in tight coverage when he's gone. McMillan, despite some perceived athleticism flaws, brings both attributes to the table.
"With Tee Higgins likely departing in free agency, the Bengals quickly snag his replacement in Tetairoa McMillan. I worry some about the separation as a route-runner, but McMillan is a vacuum at wide receiver and catches everything thrown his way. He also adds a nice element of physicality after the catch, which could be just what the Bengals need to replace Higgins." – A to Z Sports' AJ Schulte
Interestingly enough, this isn't the only recent A to Z Sports mock draft to pair McMillan with the Bengals. Our own Ian Valentino also made the case for Cincinnati to end up with one of the leading receivers in college football.
"I’ve been hesitant to predict receivers for Cincinnati because it seemed like an easy choice, but Tetairoa McMillan would be a strong upgrade over Tee Higgins. The towering 6-foot-5, 210-pound player displays superior agility and fluidity in his routes while also showcasing comparable dominance when it comes to catching the ball. Joe Burrow would definitely approve of this addition." – A to Z Sports' Ian Valentino
Through nine games this season, McMillan is second in the country in receiving yards (1,063) and boasts the fifth-highest yards per route run (3.13) for receivers with at least 70 targets. He's doing this at just 21 years of age as well.
The Bengals are still breathing in the AFC playoff race, but if things continue going south, McMillan will be a name to remember during the draft cycle this offseason.
2025 NFL Mock Draft has Bengals taking a swing at a position they always knock out of the park
Always a safe strategy for them.
