The regular season is officially over, which means all but 14 teams will turn their focus to the 2024 season. Building a playoff contender begins in free agency, and there aren’t many better options than Tee Higgins. A former second-round pick back in 2020, the Clemson product figures to be the top wide receiver on the market – if he actually gets there.
Even though he’s coming off of what is probably the worst season of his professional career, Higgins remains one of the most dangerous perimeter threats in football. Arriving in Cincinnati alongside Joe Burrow, the 6′-4″, 219-pound pass catcher made an impact from Day 1 and played a huge role in helping Cincinnati make it to the Super Bowl back in 2021. However, with Ja’Marr Chase due for a massive payday and Joe Burrow already receiving a record-breaking contract, most believed that Tee Higgins would end up departing in free agency. These rumors can be traced back to the previous offseason when the Bengals reportedly entertained trade offers for Higgins before ultimately deciding to run it back for one more season.
Ultimately, that choice didn’t pan out, as Burrow and Higgins both dealt with injuries throughout the season and missed the playoffs for the first time since Higgins’ rookie season. While most might think Higgins could walk for nothing, Bengals analyst Joe Goodberry recently revealed that he believes Cincinnati will use the franchise tag to keep the wide receiver around for one more year.
Very low. I expect them to tag him.
— Goodberry (@JoeGoodberry) January 5, 2024
REPORT: Tee Higgins Likely to Receive Franchise Tag, Not Test Open Market
There are a few ways to interpret this report. On the one hand, Tee Higgins is a talented player at a premium position, and if money weren’t a factor, every team in the league would love to have someone like him as their second-best receiver. For what it’s worth, quarterback Joe Burrow believes Higgins will be back, but he doesn’t make front office decisions. The Bengals currently have the sixth-most cap space in the NFL, so they could afford to bring Higgins back for another season. The franchise tag number for wide receivers is projected to be $21.66 million, which would still leave Cincinnati with roughly $49 million in available cap space.
On the other hand, that is a lot of money for a good-but-not-great player like Tee Higgins. While they could afford this in the short term, there is probably a better way to use those financial resources to make the 2024 Bengals even more competitive. Additionally, while they don’t have any short-term financial worries, the Bengals need to start thinking about the long term. As mentioned earlier, Ja’Marr Chase still needs to get paid, and Burrow’s cap hit jumps from $29.7 million in 2024 to $46.25 million in 2025. If contract talks spiral, there is a chance that the Bengals tag Higgins but eventually trade him in the offseason.
Potential Trade Destinations
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers finished their regular season with a whimper, failing to score a single point in two straight games while locking in the worst record in the game. Bryce Young had a rookie season to forget, and the Panthers desperately need to add some receiving talent if they want to salvage his career. It’s never a good thing when an aging Adam Thielen is comfortably the best receiver on your roster, and the Panthers don’t have the resources to draft an elite prospect. So, with that in mind, they might as well trade to get a reliable perimeter threat in Tee Higgins. Higgins won’t be able to save this team alone, but he’s a good step in the right direction.
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers made it to the playoffs in the first season of the Jordan Love Era, even though they lacked a proven veteran receiver on the roster. Romeo Doubs is a fine role player, and Christian Watson can be dangerous when he’s healthy, but this team could use a reliable threat like Tee Higgins. While he’s not nearly as good as Davante Adams, the two have similar play styles and Higgins should be a natural fit for this offense. Higgins’ sideline ability combined with Watson’s speed and Doubs’ work in the intermediate would give the Packers a well-rounded group of receivers that should make life easy for Love.
New Orleans Saints
Chris Olave is great, but it’s time for the Saints to officially give up on Michael Thomas. The former All-Pro only appeared in 10 games and didn’t look anything like his old self even when he was on the field. New Orleans is stuck with Derek Carr for at least one more season, which means that they should try to get another reliable receiver. Carr is exactly as good as his supporting cast, and he should be able to guide this team to the playoffs next year if he has some reliable weapons. It will be hard for the Saints to make the money work, but they’re the best team in the league at maneuvering around the salary cap.
New York Giants
In what is becoming an annual tradition, the New York Giants need a wide receiver. Daniel Jones has never had a reliable outside weapon, and since he’ll probably be back for at least one more season, they should at least see what Tee Higgins can do for Jones’ production. Giants fans might be having war flashbacks from the Kenny Golladay Era, but Higgins is a far more complete and well-rounded receiver than the former free agent bust.
New England Patriots
As of this posting, the Patriots have yet to decide on the fate of Bill Belichick. However, no matter who’s calling the shots next year, the top priority will be reshaping the offense. New England has to rebuild from scratch on the offensive side of the ball, as Mac Jones isn’t the answer and Demario Douglas is the only receiver on the team that shows any ability as a route runner. Just like with the Panthers, Tee Higgins won’t be able to fix this offense on his own, but he’d be a good first step and a good security blanket for whoever ends up being the quarterback next year.
Honorable Mention: Kansas City Chiefs
The Cincinnati Bengals would never trade Tee Higgins to a team as good as the Kansas City Chiefs. However, with that being said, this is the perfect pairing of player and team. Rashee Rice looks like a star in the making, but Travis Kelce is starting to slow down and the rest of the Chiefs wide receivers are terrible. Higgins is exactly what this roster needs and his ability to win contested situations downfield would be perfect for a rocket-armed quarterback like Patrick Mahomes. While a trade will never happen, this would be an ideal pairing if Higgins somehow makes it to free agency.
Main Photo: Kareem Elgazzar – USA Today Sports
