The Patriots’ Tee Higgins hopes are officially over

The Cincinnati Bengals have opened the checkbook at the wide receiver position, re-signing both Tee Higgins and Ja'Marr Chase to four-year contracts over the weekend, as first reported by Jordan Schultz.

The Chase contract, es expected, exceeds Higgins -- $161 million, $112 million guaranteed. However, the Bengals were finally able to reach an agreement with Higgins after two years of negotiations and franchise tags -- $115 million with two years guaranteed.

Chase's extension's annual average value of $40.25 million will make him the highest paid non-quarterback in the NFL. However, Higgins seemingly took less money to remain in Cincinnati. His deal has an annual average value of $28.75 million, which ranks him outside the top-five highest paid receivers, according to Over The Cap. By many estimates, he would have earned over $30 million in free agency.

For the New England Patriots, Higgins is another wide receiver that the team were interested in, but again failed to acquire. However, once he was franchised tagged by the Bengals earlier in the offseason, it seemed unlikely the Patriots would get him, but the extension closes the door entirely.

With the majority of top available receivers now signed elsewhere, the Patriots are quickly running out of options at bringing in a difference-making weapon for quarterback Drake Maye.

Luke Graham is a digital sports content co-op for 98.5 the Sports Hub. He is currently a sophomore at Northeastern University studying communications and media studies. Read all his articles here, and follow him on X @LukeGraham05.