The Cincinnati Bengals are in a bad spot, and the team could trade wide receiver Tee Higgins if the wheels continue to fall off the wagon. Widely considered one of the league’s elite rosters entering the season, the Bengals walk into Week 4 with an ugly 0-3 record with close losses against the New England Patriots, Kansas City Chiefs, and Washington Commanders. While their -12 point differential shows they’re better than their record suggests, the fact remains that they’ve dug themselves into a deep hole, and another loss could effectively end their season.
The Bengals will search for their first win against old friend Andy Dalton and the Carolina Panthers. Dalton played like it was 2015 in Week 3, completing 26 of his 37 attempts for 319 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions. Maybe this was a one-week fluke, but if Dalton keeps this up against a bad Bengals defense, Cincinnati could drop to 0-4. It is a foregone conclusion that Tee Higgins will not be back in 2025, so the team could trade him and maximize his value if 2024 becomes a lost cause. While several teams should be interested in adding a 25-year-old playmaker, the Los Angeles Chargers and New Orleans Saints are the most likely destinations.
Bengals Could Trade Tee Higgins to Chargers, Saints In Coming Weeks
Generally speaking, passing attacks are taking a step back in 2024, which is good news for the Los Angeles Chargers. Jim Harbaugh turned this defense into one of the league’s best, and J.K. Dobbins found new life in the Golden State. However, this team will eventually need to throw the ball if they want to win football games, and they’ll have a tough time doing it with their current core. Justin Herbert is battling multiple injuries, and the inexperienced duo of Quentin Johnston and second-round pick Ladd McConkey aren’t good enough to compensate for his diminished abilities. This team needs a proven veteran, and they could get one with a Tee Higgins trade.
The Chargers released Mike Williams and Keenan Allen in the offseason because their massive cap hits didn’t justify their production. While the youngsters are performing relatively well in place of the two veterans, the Los Angeles passing attack still ranks below league averages in just about every metric. Tee Higgins isn’t the picture of health himself, but a trade could bring out the best in Herbert. With the Kansas City Chiefs not looking as dominant as usual, a receiver like him might be enough to take this team over the top, provided Herbert stays relatively healthy.
The All-In Saints
The New Orleans Saints kicked off their season with two of the most dominant wins you will ever see. While they crashed back to Earth against the Philadelphia Eagles, this team clearly believes they can win it all. However, if they want to go that extra step, they should consider a Tee Higgins trade. Derek Carr had a phenomenal start to the season, but he’s normally only as good as his supporting cast. Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed are a reliable receiver duo, but going three-deep at the position could be the key to unlocking this offense.
First-year offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak worked magic with his current cast, but just imagine what he could do if the Saints trade for Tee Higgins. Chris Olave can do a little bit of everything, Shaheed is a good deep threat, but adding a perimeter receiver and jump ball specialist should help with Carr’s historical red zone woes. If they can fix this flaw in his game, then the sky is the limit for New Orleans.
Main Photo: Sam Greene – USA Today Sports
