AFL.com.au understands North Melbourne, Carlton, Richmond and Greater Western Sydney have expressed their interest in Higgins, who has put off contract talks with the Western Bulldogs until the end of this season.
It is understood the main sticking point in the Dogs' negotiations with Higgins earlier this year was the length of their proposed new offer rather than remuneration.
The Bulldogs are believed to have offered Higgins a two-year deal but the 26-year-deal is after a new three-year contract.
Higgins is on between $350,000-$400,000 a season under his existing deal with the Bulldogs but the level of interest in him could push his price up.
Free agents: who will go, who will stay?
Higgins' manager, Bruce Kaider of One Management Group, would not comment on his negotiations with the Bulldogs when contacted by AFL.com.au but said his client had not "pursued or actively listened to" any offers from rival clubs.
Kaider also said Higgins was committed to re-opening his negotiations with the Dogs at the end of this season before entertaining opposition offers.
Higgins' career has been plagued by injuries.
A broken foot restricted him to three games last season and he was plagued by the groin condition osteitis pubis earlier in his career.
But Higgins has enjoyed a better run this season, playing the Bulldogs' first 15 games before being dropped to the VFL.
The Bulldog is also such a classy ball user that opposition clubs might be prepared to punt on his injury-free run continuing and offer him the three-year deal he is seeking.
Along with Adelaide's David Mackay, Higgins is one of just two restricted free agents left in the 2014 pool, which gives the Bulldogs the right to keep him by matching the terms of any rival offer.
The Bulldogs have played the 186cm utility across half-back this season but he is equally at home in the midfield or attack.
Higgins was pick No. 11 in the 2005 NAB AFL Draft and has played 124 matches and kicked 126 goals.
