The Cincinnati Bengals used the franchise tag on wide receiver Tee Higgins, but that doesn’t mean they won’t trade him. After spending the past four years with Joe Burrow and the Bengals, the Clemson product was supposed to hit the open market. However, instead of letting him walk for nothing, the Bengals decided to tag him and keep him under team control for at least one more season.
Higgins is a good football player at a valuable position, so it’s easy to see why the Bengals would want him to stay with the organization. However, with Burrow’s cap hit set to explode and Ja’Marr Chase due for a massive extension, Cincinnati might not have the financial resources to retain their former second-round pick. With this in mind, it makes sense for the Bengals to trade Tee Higgins to the highest bidder.
Tee Higgins is in an interesting position, as we don’t know what he’s worth in a trade. The Miami Dolphins gave up a small fortune for Tyreek Hill, but Higgins isn’t nearly as good as the speedy wideout. While we’ll never know for sure until a deal goes through, NFL insider Ari Meirov reports that the Bengals could get a first- or early second-round pick for the wide receiver.
Several team executives believe the #Bengals could get a 1st-round pick or an early 2nd-round pick if they were to consider trading WR Tee Higgins.
Discussing all the scenarios with @PFF_Sam & @PFF_Steve on @The33rdTeamFB: pic.twitter.com/N63AxyQUqS
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) February 26, 2024
NFL Insider Leaks Reported Cost of A Tee Higgins Trade
The fact that this report is being leaked suggests that, at the very least, the Bengals are considering a Tee Higgins trade. While head coach Zac Taylor recently spoke about keeping Higgins around, this could be an intentionally misleading quote to bolster his trade value. Taylor probably would love to have Higgins around indefinitely, but it’s not feasible in the salary cap era. While Cincinnati has the resources to keep the wide receiver in town for 2024, they’d probably be better off trading him and using that pick on a cost-controlled receiver in a loaded draft class.
With that being said, plenty of teams would love the opportunity to trade for Tee Higgins. While the NFL Draft offers the possibility of cost-controlled talent, Higgins is a proven receiver and the following five teams should be willing to meet Cincinnati’s reported asking price.
Possible Destinations
Carolina Panthers
In case you hadn’t noticed, the Carolina Panthers desperately need wide receivers. First-overall pick Bryce Young never had a chance during his rookie season, and if the Panthers want to see what they have in the Alabama product, they could consider a Tee Higgins trade. The Panthers can’t afford to take another risk with an unproven talent, as they did this last year and ended up with Jonathan Mingo. Higgins will guarantee that there is at least one above-average receiver on this roster, which will hopefully be enough to bring out the best in Young.
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals have six picks in the first three rounds of the 2024 NFL Draft, and they can easily afford to part ways with one in a Tee Higgins trade. With the organization firmly standing behind Kyler Murray, they do not need a new quarterback. Giving Murray a wide receiver duo of Marvin Harrison Jr and Tee Higgins would be borderline unfair and could power this team to the playoffs.
Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers will release Mike Williams, leaving them without a proven perimeter receiver and red zone threat. Justin Herbert can’t do it all on his own, which means the Chargers should think about a Tee Higgins trade. Los Angeles shouldn’t worry about picks either, as they currently hold the fifth-overall selection and could easily trade down for a king’s ransom.
New York Giants
The New York Giants are stuck with Daniel Jones for at least one more year, so they need to see if he can succeed with reliable weapons. Jones isn’t one of the handful of quarterbacks who can singlehandedly win games on his own, regardless of his surroundings, but he might be able to play like a top 10-15 quarterback with proper weapons. The Giants are paying him to be a franchise quarterback, and they should consider a Tee Higgins trade to see if they can justify their investment.
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs have every reason to want to trade for Tee Higgins. With a clear need for a wide receiver, Higgins can provide a reliable downfield presence that pairs perfectly with the rocket arm of Patrick Mahomes. The biggest question is whether or not the Cincinnati Bengals would ever trade Higgins to their biggest AFC competitor. They won’t want to do this, but if Kansas City is the only team offering a first-round pick, they might have no choice but to pull the trigger.
Main Photo: Sam Greene – USA Today Sports
