Assessing The Realistic Tee Higgins Trade Partners
Syndication: The Enquirer
It’s been a tough offseason for Cincinnati wideouts. Just prior to the NFL free agency negotiating window opening, Tee Higgins requested a trade from the Bengals. While it would be tough to lose Higgins, a fan favorite, in the same offseason that they’re also expected to lose Tyler Boyd, a team could sweep the Bengals off their feet with a lucrative offer. As hard as it is to go down the path on such a talented young player, let’s talk about some of the potential options.
The Rebuild Speed Boost: New England Patriots
New England is in full rebuild mode after comically swinging and missing on Mac Jones in the 2021 Draft. They hold the third overall pick in the 2024 Draft, and they are widely expected to use that selection to take a quarterback. Whether that QB is Drake Maye or Jayden Daniels, or possibly even a later first round option, remains to be seen.
New England is in dire need of wide receiver help after losing out on the Calvin Ridley sweepstakes to the Tennessee Titans. As it stands right now, their top receiving options are Demario Douglas (who has zero career touchdowns), Kendrick Bourne (who had one touchdown in 2023), KJ Osborn, and a declining JuJu Smith-Schuster. Getting a true number one receiver like Higgins would help ensure their QB1 of the future isn’t inheriting a receiver corps that leaves a lot to be desired.
Should the #Patriots TRADE for WR Tee Higgins? pic.twitter.com/6nauMSPbkI
— Patriot RedZone (@PatriotRedZone) March 23, 2024
New England is looking to start anew after the Mac Jones era in Foxborough has ended. They traded him to the Jacksonville Jaguars for a sixth round pick. Which, by the way…
The Reunion: Jacksonville Jaguars
Speaking of teams that lost out in the Calvin Ridley sweepstakes, the Jacksonville Jaguars may be looking for a true go-to option after the receiver departed for their AFC South rivals in the Tennessee Titans. They brought in Gabe Davis, who can occasionally produce but struggles with consistency. Bringing in a consistent player like Higgins can help get attention off of Christian Kirk and complete the Jags’ receiver corps.
But why is this a reunion, you ask? The answer is simple: Higgins’ college QB just happens to be under center in Jacksonville
Trevor Lawrence to Tee Higgins. A beautiful thing to watch. pic.twitter.com/9YzwhQT5xH
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) August 30, 2019
Trevor Lawrence is by no means awful, but he also hasn’t lived up to the “generational talent” label that was put on him as he entered the league. The jury is still out as to whether the former Clemson star is worth a massive long-term extension, which he will be due for in the next year or two. Acquiring a standout receiver who is also a familiar face will increase the odds that Lawrence reaches his full potential.
The Last Gasp: New York Giants
Perhaps no quarterback in the NFL has been more of a Twitter punching bag of late than Daniel Jones.
Daniel Jones fans when Schoen takes a long snapper out of Eastern Wyoming Culinary Technical Institute at 6th overall (They don’t care if the team goes 0-17 as long as they get to win the imaginary fanbase war) https://t.co/Lp1eV8SFNu https://t.co/LqWKt15hnJ
— 🃏 (@01Camron) March 24, 2024
The 2019 6th overall pick is clinging to the Giants’ starting job, and his days as their go-to signal caller could be numbered. However, despite lackluster production and iffy results over the last five seasons, Brian Daboll seems set on Daniel Jones retaining the starting role whenever he’s ready.
“When he gets back, he’ll be the guy,” Daboll said to Tom Pelissero.
While things very much could change after April’s draft, there is currently no surefire number one receiver on the Giants’ roster. As of now, Daniel Jones’ surrounding cast consists of Darius Slayton, Wan’Dale Robinson, Jalin Hyatt, and an aging Darren Waller. Adding the star as a vertical option would certainly be a welcome option in New York, especially considering the fact that they just lost a star of their own in Saquon Barkley.
The Pipe Dream: Minnesota Vikings
Let us start by saying this is a highly unrealistic possibility. A 2019 LSU reunion featuring Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, and Justin Jefferson would be a blast of Rumspringa-like proportions, but it is also well out of the Bengals’ price range. It would also be doing the rest of the team a disservice by spending almost half of their cap on three players.
In addition, it would be asking a lot for the Vikings to part ways with the best receiver in their franchise’s history not named Randy Moss. No matter what they get in return, the Vikings are likely to be unwilling to part with Justin Jefferson as he continues his prime.
Setting realistic possibilities aside, it is fun to imagine: what if?
Grandma stays in here until the bengals trade for Justin Jefferson pic.twitter.com/Bov30krxZw
— Fans of Cincy (@fansofcincy) March 13, 2024
Cincinnati would have to part with Higgins and significant draft capital to acquire him, but in the wild event that it can be done, Cincinnati’s offense would reach absurd heights. Having arguably the two best wide receivers in the NFL, in addition to one of the NFL’s best quarterbacks, would create nightmares for opposing coordinators. For the Vikings, Higgins (in addition to most receivers in the NFL) would be a significant step down from Jefferson. However, he still provides WR1 capabilities, he would keep Minnesota’s offense afloat, and he would be an excellent complement to the ascending Jordan Addison. They could also use the valuable draft capital to help build a balanced squad.
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