Patriots Eyeing Trade for High-Value WR Valued at $74 Million After Trade Demand…
The early stages of the NFL offseason have brought frustration for the Patriots due to the rapid thinning of an already limited free-agent wide receiver market.
Key players like Mike Evans, Michael Pittman, and Tee Higgins, among others, are off the table, posing challenges for a team in need of a receiver as much as a quarterback.
However, a recent development offers a glimmer of hope. Following his franchise tag by the Bengals, Higgins and the team have failed to reach an agreement, leading to Higgins expressing his desire to part ways with Cincinnati and formally requesting a trade.
According to reports from ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Higgins, despite his affection for Cincinnati, is disappointed by the lack of talks regarding a long-term contract extension since March 2023 and is ready to explore opportunities with a new team.
The potential acquisition of Higgins would likely require a package similar to what the Eagles offered for A.J. Brown in 2022—potentially a second- and third-round pick in the upcoming draft. While the Patriots hold the No. 3 pick, it’s unlikely they would part with it for Higgins, but they could consider offering their second-round pick (No. 34 overall) and a third-rounder in this year’s draft, possibly with additional picks in 2025.
Despite the considerable cost, the Patriots are desperate for a top-tier receiver, and Higgins, at just 25 years old, presents an attractive option. Despite injuries in 2023, he maintained an impressive 15.6 yards per reception in 12 games, building on back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in 2021-22.
The Patriots, currently armed with the second-highest cap space (over $82 million), have the financial flexibility to accommodate Higgins’s projected contract of over $18 million per year or $74 million over four years, as estimated by Spotrac.
New England’s wide receiver corps currently lacks depth, with Kendrick Bourne as their top receiver, albeit considered a No. 2/3 option on a competitive team. Other options, including JuJu Schuster-Smith and DeVante Parker, present uncertainties due to injury concerns and performance issues.
The potential addition of Higgins could provide the much-needed offensive boost, aligning with the team’s goal to ‘weaponize the offense,’ as mentioned by Eliot Wolf. Despite the significant investment required, the Patriots seem poised to pursue this opportunity to enhance their receiving options and better support their future quarterback, whoever that may be.”
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