Analyzing the possibility of the Patriots acquiring Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins through a trade.
There is still a possibility for Tee Higgins to be acquired by the Patriots through a trade.
Irrespective of the quarterback chosen in the draft, the New England Patriots are still in need of a prominent wide receiver, and there is still a skilled one available for trade.
The individual in question is Tee Higgins, a wide receiver for the Cincinnati Bengals, who expressed his desire for a trade during the current offseason. As the franchise tag is being applied to players throughout the league and long-term contracts are being finalized, it is worth noting that Higgins is one of only two tagged players who have not yet signed a new agreement, as highlighted by ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Wednesday.
Higgins was granted a franchise tag worth $21.81 million during the current offseason, which exceeds his market value according to Spotrac’s data.
He’s estimated for $18.6 million year or a four-year, $74.4 million deal according Spotrac. With a substantial salary cap space of $47.42 million and a selection of seven draft picks beyond the first round, New England has the financial means and resources to engage in a deal.
It is important to mention that the Houston Texans acquired Stefon Diggs, a former wide receiver for the Buffalo Bills, by using a second round pick this year. Therefore, the New England Patriots might have the opportunity to trade their No. 34 pick, which is higher than the Texans’ pick, to the Cincinnati Bengals. Higgins may provide an instant spark amid 257 catches for 3,684 yards and 24 touchdowns in his young career. He also has a career average of 14.3 yards per reception, which would allow New England to move the chains more consistently in 2024.
The Patriots didn’t have a receiver post more receiving yards, average yards, or touchdowns than Higgins last season. Higgins tallied 42 receptions for 656 yards and five touchdowns, and those stats were career lows owing to injuries and just 12 games played. Despite injuries last season, Higgins has been relatively durable with 16 games played in two of his first three seasons and 14 games played in 2021.
Higgins endured a shoulder ailment and an ankle injury that year. Proposed Patriots Trade Nets More Than Tee Higgins Bleacher Report’s Alex Kay feels the Patriots might acquire more than Higgins in a trade with the Bengals. Kay said that the Patriots may send the No. 34 pick to Cincinnati in exchange for Higgins and a sixth-round pick. Cincinnati wants a trade partner for a wideout who doesn’t want to stay in the Queen City. “Although some other standout receivers have lately fetched first-round returns—including the Tennessee Titans securing the No. 18 overall pick for A.J. Brown during the 2022 draft—Higgins’ lack of accolades and looming contract extension restrict his value,” Kay wrote. “Brown had already made a Pro Bowl and still had a year left on his rookie deal when the Titans sent him to the Philadelphia Eagles, so the Bengals should be more than thrilled landing a premium Day 2 pick here.”
“While New England would be giving up a rather lofty selection for Higgins and could perhaps be overpaying based on his efforts last season, Cincinnati’s brass could sweeten the pot by tossing in the latter of their two sixth-round selections,” Kay continued. “The Bengals would also profit by bringing in what should be an impact rookie at No. 34 overall, a location where they can acquire one of the best players who slipped through the first-round cracks.” Matthew Davis covers the NFL for Heavy.com, focusing on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New England Patriots and San Francisco 49ers. As a contributing writer to the StarTribune, he has also covered Minnesota prep sports since 2016.
