Tag: Tee Higgins

Report: Bengals ‘willing to listen’ to trade offers for WR Tee Higgins

Can the Patriots pry Tee Higgins away from the Bengals?

The New England Patriots have still yet to acquire a true No. 1 receiver nearly two weeks into the free agency period. That has caused frustrations with fans that coach Jerod Mayo publicly addressed at the NFL annual meeting on Monday.

The truth of the matter is there are a plethora of options still on the table for New England, including Cincinnati Bengals wideout Tee Higgins.

Per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Bengals are believed to be listening to trade offers for the burgeoning star receiver, who is currently on a franchise tag.

“He wants out, he has made the trade request. I talked to a few teams who are interested who believe that the Bengals are at least willing to listen,” Fowler reported on “SportsCenter,” via Bleacher Report’s Adam Wells. “That’s a little softer than they might have been a year ago where they definitely were not trading him. So, teams are going to try to pry him out. New England’s been high-end shopping for receiver help, perhaps they try to give up a Day 2 pick to get Higgins.”

Luring Higgins to New England with the No. 34 overall pick in the second round of the 2024 NFL draft would be a huge get for the Patriots.

It would finally solve the receiver problem they’ve had since Tom Brady was still under center. Higgins would give them a legitimate elite vertical threat capable of attacking opposing defenses on the outside. It would also help fill one of their biggest needs in the draft.

Not only would the Patriots have to agree to a trade with the Bengals, they’d also want to sign Higgins to a long-term extension. It wouldn’t be cheap by any stretch of the imagination, but for a team considering drafting a rookie quarterback, it would be well worth the price tag.

Bengals ‘willing to listen’ on Tee Higgins trade, per report

An update on the Tee Higgins trade request and where the Bengals stand.

The Cincinnati Bengals, unsurprisingly, won’t ignore the phone if teams call about a Tee Higgins trade.

Saturday, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler appeared on “SportsCenter” and said the Bengals have been open to calls on that subject (h/t Adam Wells of Bleacher Report):

“He wants out, he has made the trade request. I talked to a few teams who are interested who believe that the Bengals are at least willing to listen. That’s a little softer than they might have been a year ago where they definitely were not trading him. So, teams are going to try to pry him out. New England’s been high-end shopping for receiver help, perhaps they try to give up a Day 2 pick to get Higgins.”

The Bengals applied the $21.7 million franchise tag to Higgins early in the process and ahead of the scouting combine, though Bengals director of player personnel Duke Tobin attributed the quick tag to the increase in the NFL’s salary cap and not a desire to talk trades.

A report after the Bengals tagged Higgins said they didn’t hear much about a trade from other teams at the combine. The Carolina Panthers, a team that stockpiled extra draft picks recently, reportedly hasn’t contacted Cincinnati about Higgins.

Still, how the Bengals have talked about a Higgins trade compared to just one season ago is quite different and listening to what other teams might be willing to give up would make sense.

The looming threat of a second franchise tag next offseason after the dramatic salary cap increase could be an interesting factor to remember in the background here. The Bengals and Higgins have until mid-July to work out a contract extension, otherwise he’ll play the season on the tag.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1]

Report: Patriots looking into trade market for impact receiver

The Patriots are reportedly looking to the trade market at wide receiver

The New England Patriots are looking into the trade market for a veteran wide receiver, according to a report from Pro Football Network’s Adam Caplan.

The Patriots missed out in the Calvin Ridley sweepstakes, with the former Jacksonville Jaguars leading receiver going to the Tennessee Titans. New England did make a series of moves at the wide receiver position, including cutting DeVante Parker last week and re-signing Kendrick Bourne.

They still have other in-house options with Demario Douglas, JuJu Smith-Schuster and Tyquan Thornton. However, the team still needs a No. 1 receiving target, and they could seek that player in a trade.

Caplan wrote:

Not only did the Patriots have serious interest in signing WR Calvin Ridley, but a league source with knowledge of the situation said the team has looked into the trade market for other veterans at the position.

As another source points out, New England has gotten little production out of the wide receiver position for years (especially drafted players), and they’re looking to add at least one impact player at the position this offseason.

The 2024 NFL draft is full of wide receiver talent, which means opportunities to hit on playmakers there as well.

There could also be an opportunity for New England to make a play at WR Tee Higgins before the draft if the Cincinnati Bengals decide to move him.

The latter would be the splash fans have been waiting to see, but even a rookie prospect would shake things up for the better in New England.

Report: Panthers not likely to trade for Bengals WR Tee Higgins

According to CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones, the Panthers are not likely to trade either of their second-round picks for Bengals WR Tee Higgins.

Don’t expect the Carolina Panthers to flip yesterday’s pittance for Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins.

On Monday, the organization finally put an end to the Brian Burns saga—trading the two-time Pro Bowl pass rusher to the New York Giants for some draft capital. The haul includes this year’s 39th overall pick, a swap of 2024 fifth-rounders and a 2025 fifth-rounder.

While the return is a bit of bummer, especially considering what the Panthers could’ve had for Burns 16 months ago, some have speculated that the 39th selection could be used to acquire Higgins. The 25-year-old, who is seeking a long-term deal of his own, reportedly requested a trade from the Bengals yesterday.

But according to CBS Sports lead NFL insider Jonathan Jones, there is no fire to go with that manufactured smoke. Jones tweeted this morning that no conversations have taken place between Carolina and Cincinnati and that a trade for Higgins is “not likely to happen.”

He also notes that the Panthers, who are in the process of rebuilding under new general manager Dan Morgan and head coach Dave Canales, are unlikely to unload their picks for a veteran.

In addition to that No. 39 pick, Carolina is also in possession of their own second-rounder this spring—No. 33. And with the 2024 draft class being particularly deep at the wideout position, those selections could be used to double dip on a pair of potent (and relatively cheap) pass catchers.

[lawrence-related id=692453,692515,692842]

Bengals, Panthers haven’t talked Tee Higgins trade and deal is unlikely, per report

An insider shoots down a Tee Higgins, Bengals-Panthers trade idea.

The Carolina Panthers sure looked like a team loading up to trade for a star player such as Cincinnati Bengals wideout Tee Higgins.

But a new report says not to count on it.

According to CBS Sports’  Jonathan Jones, despite the recent addition of draft assets, the Panthers haven’t made overtures about a Higgins trade to the Bengals: “With Carolina now in possession of picks 33 and 39, there had been some talk of packaging those in a trade for a player like WR Tee Higgins. A league source tells me no conversations have taken place between Carolina and Cincinnati, and a trade is not likely to happen.”

Those Panthers traded superstar pass-rusher Brian Burns to the New York Giants, meaning they now own the first, 33rd, 39th and 65th picks in the top 100 of the draft.

Those picks in the 30-60 range would make for a standard-fare offering via trade for a player like Higgins. Compounding matters is Carolina’s droves of cap space that could afford a Higgins extension and the desperate need to make sure that Bryce Young, last year’s No. 1 overall pick, develops properly.

But…it takes two to make a trade happen and there’s nothing to say the Bengals are actually interested in trading Higgins despite his trade request.  Another report said other teams haven’t called the Bengals since they applied the franchise tag.

With the wideout market very slow right now ahead of an extremely deep draft class, teams like the Panthers might be more comfortable waiting on the draft instead of coughing up big assets and cash for Higgins.

That could change, of course, but the most obvious trade partner for Higgins, at least right now, hasn’t hinted at wanting to do a deal.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1]

Cincinnati Bengals WR Tee Higgins requests trade

A Tee Higgins trade could have a significant impact on the 2024 NFL draft.

In a move that could shake up draft boards in a deep wide receiver class, franchise tagged Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins has informed the ball club he is requesting a trade.

Should Bengals’ ownership honor the request of Higgins, he would immediately become the top available wide receiver on the market and could come at a cost as high as a first-round pick. Multiple teams at the bottom end of the first round and top of the second round are looking for receiver help, and Higgins could step in and be the number one right away.

Should Higgins land elsewhere, the receiver board could fall quite differently for the 2024 NFL Draft. With multiple teams slotted to potentially take a receiver right around Higgin’s potential landing spots, it could mean one or two receivers suddenly fall out of first-round contention.

All of this hinges on the Bengals and their incoming decision with one of the league’s hottest weapons available.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Reports: Tee Higgins shocks Cincinnati Bengals with trade request

Former Clemson standout receiver Tee Higgins wants out of Cincinnati, according to multiple outlets, including ESPN.

Former Clemson standout receiver Tee Higgins wants out of Cincinnati, according to multiple outlets, including ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Higgins has said that he loves playing in Cincinnati, the organization that drafted him (second-round, 33rd overall) the same year as franchise quarterback Joe Burrow in 2020.

But the Bengals, who finished a disappointing 9-8 a year ago after Burrow suffered a season-ending injury in November, recently placed the franchise tag on Higgins near the end of February.

Higgins, who just turned 25 in January, is reportedly disappointed that the Bengals have not had any talks with him about a long-term contract extension. The one-year franchise tag was for $21.8 million for the upcoming season, should the two sides not work out a long-term agreement by July 15.

News of Higgins’ request was announced just hours before the NFL’s tampering window opened at noon EDT.

In the final year of Higgins’ rookie contract a season ago, he made 42 receptions for 656 yards to go with five touchdown catches. He’s had two 1,000-yard seasons in four years with the Bengals.

Higgins finished his collegiate career in 2019 tied with Sammy Watkins and DeAndre Hopkins for most receiving touchdowns in Clemson history with 27. He had 135 catches for 2,448 yards in three seasons for Dabo Swinney’s program.

Higgins caught 59 passes for 936 yards and 12 touchdowns in the Tigers’ 15-0 national championship season in 2018.

Could Jets realistically pursue WR Tee Higgins in a trade?

Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins has requested a trade. Although receiver is a big need for the Jets, is this a realistic move they can make?

The New York Jets are in need of help at the wide receiver position, and the Cincinnati Bengals’ Tee Higgins has reportedly requested a trade. While adding Higgins to the Jets’ receiver room would provide a major boost, how realistic is it?

Higgins was set to be a free agent this offseason, but the Bengals placed the franchise tag on him. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Higgins loves Cincinnati and was hoping to strike a long-term deal with the Bengals. However, he is disappointed that the team hasn’t had any talks about a long-term extension with him since March of 2023.

Higgins produced a 1,400 yard season in 2021 with the Bengals and then 1,177 yards in 2022, catching nearly 70 percent of his targets and totaling 16 touchdowns during that span. This past year, as the Bengals experienced up and down quarterback play with Joe Burrow sidelined, Higgins caught 57 percent of his 74 targets and averaged 15.6 yards per catch with five touchdowns.

The return of Aaron Rodgers under center on its own will help turn the Jets’ passing game around. But what this offense also needs is a reliable secondary target alongside of Garrett Wilson, which will help take some of the burden off of Wilson while also opening up opportunities elsewhere in the passing game for Rodgers.

Although Wilson was able to eclipse the 1,000 yard mark in 2023, the Jets’ second leading receiver was Allen Lazard at 311 yards, and then Xavier Gipson at 229 yards.

“We’ve got some great young guys,” said Wilson via The Athletic, “we’ve got some great vets,” he said. “I think another infusion of someone that brought different things to the table that gives the defense something to worry about, that would be beneficial to everyone, not just me.”

From a pure football standpoint, why wouldn’t the Jets make this move? Receiver is a major need and this is a team with Super Bowl aspirations, which the addition of Higgins would certainly help with that cause.

However, as we all know, there are other factors at play, specifically the cost to both acquire and keep Higgins.

The Bengals are going to be looking to get a premium draft pick in return for Higgins and likely for this year’s draft—not next. The Jets, however, don’t have much in terms of premium draft capital available, ranking 22nd in draft capital value by Tankathon, with only the 10th and 72nd overall picks in the top 100.

For what it’s worth, this also happens to be a loaded wide receiver draft class, and as we’ve seen, especially in recent years, high end wide receiver talent is coming in and making an immediate impact right away.

In addition to that, if the Jets were to acquire Higgins, they’d then have to sign him to a new contract, which could be north of over $20 million per year. In terms of available cap space this offseason, the Jets are sitting okay with $20.7 million available, but relatively speaking, that is the 18th most in the NFL.

Although the receiver position is a big need, addressing the offensive line, where realistically there are three starting spots available, is priority No. 1 for the Jets. Investing at least $20 million per year at a different position then limits what the Jets have available to spend elsewhere, specifically in the trenches.

The Bengals have been in a somewhat similar situation before, as noted by The Athletic. After franchise tagging Jessie Bates, while he didn’t formally demand a trade, he did not report for training camp. Last year, Jonah Williams requested a trade after Orlando Brown Jr. was signed but Williams ended up showing up for training camp and playing out his fifth-year option.

“That’s a problem in this situation,” wrote Paul Dehner of The Athletic. “They (Cincinnati) have never been willing trade partners, so the idea of pulling one off here is increasingly difficult when teams have many other options. Cincinnati wants to play the 2024 season with Higgins, that’s what matters most to it.”

Without question, adding Higgins to the Jets’ offense would be a valuable move, and as part of Joe Douglas doing his due diligence, he should at the very least make a call to see what it might take to land the receiver.

Ultimately, if the Jets wanted to make this trade, they could find a way to do so. But as always, there is give and take and pulling this move off would limit the Jets elsewhere from a roster building standpoint. So for the reasons mentioned, this is not a move I would anticipate happening. The Jets will have to address the receiver position elsewhere.

NFL fans recalled the 4 QBs Tee Higgins said he’d want to play with after his Bengals trade request

Tee Higgins already has a shortlist of star QBs he’d like to play with.

The Cincinnati Bengals’ first promising core with Joe Burrow seems to be in danger of breaking up. On Monday morning, star receiver Tee Higgins was officially granted permission to seek a trade, opening up a world of possibilities for his next potential NFL team.

But while many NFL fans fantasized about the terrific playmaker joining their squad, it seems Higgins already somewhat telegraphed where he’d like to play in the future.

In a month-old video courtesy of NBC Sports’ Lawrence Jackson Jr., Higgins built his shortlist of good NFL quarterbacks he’d like to play with who aren’t Joe Burrow. From Trevor Lawrence to CJ Stroud, the names he mentions aren’t remotely surprising:

I could certainly see Higgins calling Houston or Jacksonville home, considering where those still-ascending teams are in their contention windows. But I’d venture there is a virtual zero percent chance the Bengals deal Higgins away to play with Lamar Jackson or Josh Allen — considering the Baltimore Ravens and Buffalo Bills are likely considered main roadblocks in Cincinnati’s Super Bowl aspirations.

One thing is for sure: If Higgins’ request is fulfilled, it’s gonna be a fun deal that one lucky quarterback will really appreciate.

Bengals didn’t get Tee Higgins trade calls after franchise tag, per report

A report reveals that no teams have called the Bengals about trading for Tee Higgins.

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins has requested a trade, though no other teams have previously approached the Bengals about a deal.

According to a report from Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio, zero teams called the Bengals about a deal after the team applied the franchise tag to the star wideout.

Florio wrote the following: “Per a source with knowledge of the situation, that hadn’t happened before today. The Bengals hadn’t even gotten a call about a potential trade.”

The Bengals talked differently about Higgins’ future with the team at the combine than they have in the past, though Bengals director of player personnel Duke Tobin shot down the idea that the quick timing of the franchise tag had anything to do with wanting to trade him.

Perhaps part of the reason no team approached the Bengals is their reputation as stubborn in trade talks. But part of it is undoubtedly the asking price, too, as the Bengals figure to want roughly a first-round pick in exchange if they’re willing to deal Higgins — the trading team would have to cough up that and a potentially market-resetting extension.

As always mentioned, the Bengals and Higgins have until July 15 to reach a long-term extension, or he’ll play on the tag next season, barring a shocking trade development.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1]