Browns: Rashard Higgins pleads with front office for new contract

Rashard Higgins would love nothing more than to re-up with the Cleveland Browns in 2021.

With 2021 NFL free agency right around the corner, wide receiver Rashard Higgins is hoping to be back with the Cleveland Browns on a new contract.

Higgins was taken in the fifth round out of Colorado State in the 2016 NFL Draft. After playing out his rookie deal, he re-upped with the Browns on a one-year contract last offseason. Higgins has been a favorite target of Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield since he arrived in Cleveland back in 2018. While Higgins wants to return in 2021, he must look out for his financial best interests.

“I would love to be here,” said Higgins on The Next Level on ESPN Cleveland WKNR (850-AM). “Don’t give up on me. I never gave up on y’all. Tell [general manager] Andrew [Berry] to send the papers, and I’m signing wherever I’ve got to sign. That’s all I’ve got to say.”

“We want to see when we can get this contract and stuff done,” said Higgins. “Obviously, if it’s not with the Browns — we want it to be with the Browns — but it’s up in the air right now. We haven’t got no contracts from the guys yet. So everything is just [up] in the air right now.”

A strong connection with Baker Mayfield may keep Rashard Higgins in Cleveland

Higgins is coming off one of his best NFL seasons. He had 37 receptions for a career-high 599 yards, matching his career-best of four receiving touchdowns. Higgins by no means is anything more than a high-end No. 3 receiver in this league, but he seems to have adapted quite well to Kevin Stefanski’s ground-centric Browns offense. He is thriving in his new role with Cleveland.

What this will all come down to is if Higgins’ representation and Browns general manager Andrew Berry can agree to a new contract. Though it feels like Higgins could take a hometown discount, he has never really made big money before. So if one of the other 31 NFL teams presents an offer beyond what Cleveland wants to give him, he could be on another team entering his sixth season.

Higgins will find out in a few weeks what team he will be playing for in the upcoming NFL season.