Despite Higgins Situation Now Is Not The Time To Use A High Pick On A Receiver
The Enquirer
With the Bengals likely losing Tyler Boyd and Tee Higgins requesting a trade, Who Dey Nation is searching for answers. Cincinnati has gotten accustomed to having arguably the best trio of wide receivers in the NFL, so losing two of those three would be a tough thing to come to terms with, especially in the locker room.
True or False: The Bengals have the best WR trio in the NFL ✍️ pic.twitter.com/rbWsnSv6Ib
— Beerly Football (@BeerlyFootball) January 22, 2023
That elite level of wide receiver play paired with one of the best quarterbacks in the game is hard to find. With that possibility, it leaves fans wondering: what top tier target should the Bengals draft to keep up that elite level of play in the offense?
The answer: none
Drafting a receiver high in the draft is always an exciting move for any team, especially in a passing-dominated league. However, addressing other areas on the team is a higher priority, as the Bengals faced major struggles in areas of offensive line play and run defense. Even with the acquisition of Trent Brown, the Bengals would be wise to invest a high pick in an option in the event that Brown departs or doesn’t play due to injury. Keeping Joe Burrow protected, especially after a season where he suffered two separate injuries, is of the utmost importance.
There was, however, the possibility that the Bengals would need to replace Tee Higgins, as he requested a trade just prior to the free agency window opening up. Despite the aforementioned trade request and the repeated rumors over the years, Zac Taylor has consistently stood his ground and maintained that the Bengals aren’t interested in moving on from him.
Bengals head coach Zac Taylor laughs off "nonsense" of Tee Higgins trade rumors pic.twitter.com/VvSBjGn2nZ
— Mike Petraglia (@Trags) February 28, 2023
Duke Tobin maintained that same mentality when discussing the Bengals’ decision to put the franchise tag on him.
“It’s really simple: He’s a good player, we want to keep him, and we have resources to do that, so we decided early to do it,” Tobin said. “And that’s where we are. We like Tee. We’re a better team with Tee. With the way we managed our cap, we had the ability to put the franchise tag on him, and we did.”
With that, there is no immediate need to replace Higgins. He is widely expected to be paired up with Ja’Marr Chase and be a large part of the Bengals’ offense in 2024. Even with the potential loss of Tyler Boyd, the duo will be among the NFL’s best.
The Bengals also have a pair of younger receivers who started to come into their own as the year wound down.
The first and last touchdown scorers for the 2023 Bengals?
Charlie Jones and Andrei Iosivas. pic.twitter.com/vr8ms8oOWn
— BThangs (@bengalsthangs) January 19, 2024
Iosivas was primarily a red zone target before he started to come into his own near the end of the 2024 season. In Weeks 16 and 18 combined, with Jake Browning under center, Yoshi broke out with 9 receptions, 72 yards, and 2 TDs, both of which came in Week 18 against Cleveland.
Jake Browning to Andrei Iosivas Passing TD (12/4)
pic.twitter.com/qZgt0HrmsP— NFL TD Videos (@NFLTDVideos2023) January 7, 2024
In addition, Jones had a solid Week 18 performance of his own; he posted a solid 3 reception, 49 yard slash line. It’s a sign of positive momentum for the receiver corps, especially since Jones was primarily a contributor as a returner in his rookie season. Those numbers are a positive sign, especially considering the fact that they will now have one of the best QBs in the NFL in Joe Burrow throwing them the ball in 2024. A year two leap for both Jones and Iosivas is almost inevitable.
Assuming the Bengals stick to their guns and maintain the current wide receiver corps they have, it will consist of Chase, Higgins, Jones, Iosivas, and Trenton Irwin. Irwin was re-signed to a one year deal worth $2 million and is a solid contributor in his own right. He even helped make the Joe Burrow archery GIF possible.
Joe Burrow with a DIME to Trenton Irwin for the Bengals TD! 🎯 #WHODEY pic.twitter.com/fNxs0yUPsY
— Cincinnati 💔 (@CincyProblems) November 12, 2023
Despite the persistent rumors and constant articles that are written on the subject solely to give journalists something to do, Higgins will likely be a Cincinnati Bengal in 2024. However, there is still the very real possibility that Higgins departs from Cincinnati after 2024, whether that be due to free agency or via a trade.
In such a case, a need for a wide receiver will absolutely emerge. Assuming that happens prior to the 2025 NFL Draft, the Bengals can address that need then. It has been consistently shown over the years that wide receivers, perhaps more than any other position in the NFL, are quickly able to make the adjustment from college to the pros. If Higgins leaves, the Bengals would then be wise to select his replacement who can then be paired with Ja’Marr Chase and contribute right away.
A day three pick could absolutely be used on a target for depth purposes. However, until Higgins officially leaves the team, the Bengals should use early draft capital to address much more pressing areas of need.
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