If you think Mike Tomlin doesn't show his cards when it comes to the players he is interested in, think again. This is the same Steelers head coach who gushed over players like linebacker Myles Jack and cornerback William Jackson III during the pre-draft process only to make a move for the NFL veterans when they were up for grabs.
Tomlin did the same thing with Patrick Peterson -- ignoring his age and diminishing play in order to land a player he's had his eye on for years (this didn't exactly work out well for Pittsburgh).
Now the Steelers head coach is at it again.
This time, Tomlin has made no effort to hide his infatuation with Bengals wide receiver, Tee Higgins. Over the years, Tomlin has spoken highly of the big wide receiver. Playing Cincinnati twice per year, the Steelers have gotten a great look at a player who has made this team pay.
Tomlin spoke to the media ahead of Pittsburgh's Week 14 contest against the Browns and gushed over Higgins -- referring to him as 'Mr. Higgins' and likening his unstoppable ability to box players out like NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O'Neal.
After the Bengals put up 38 points on the Steelers in Week 13, you can bet that Tomlin's infatuation with Higgins has only grown stronger. Interestingly, Higgins will become an unrestricted free agent during the 2025 offseason, and Tomlin could have his eye on one of the most coveted players about to become available.
Steelers could sign Tee Higgins in 2025
Mike Tomlin has a bias toward players who show up big when playing the Pittsburgh Steelers; there's no question about it. In seven career games against the Steelers, Higgins is averaging 92.0 receiving yards per game while chipping in a total of four touchdown receptions.
Meanwhile, the Steelers have a glaring need for another starting wide receiver and George Pickens can't be trusted with his continued on-field antics. This could make Higgins a go-to target for Pittsburgh's front office in free agency.
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Signing a top-15 NFL wide receiver won't come cheap -- especially with other teams bidding for his services. If Pittsburgh were to land Higgins, he would undoubtedly become the most expensive free agent signing in Steelers history, surpassing the recent three-year contract of linebacker Patrick Queen.
Higgins has the ability to take this offense to the next level, but his extensive injury concerns must be taken into account. The star receiver has only played a full season once in his career, and it came as a rookie back in 2020. Higgins has missed 14 career games due to numerous ailments and has been forced to play through injuries at times.
However, Higgins' injury history won't deter Tomlin from pursuing one of his favorite non-Steeler players in the league. Pittsburgh is in full-blown win-now mode, and Tee Higgins could help the Steelers chase a Super Bowl next year.