How Patriots Should Proceed After Defeating Tee Higgins Report

The dream feels dead.

Tee Higgins and the Cincinnati Bengals intend to come to an agreement on a long-term contract, as first reported by Sports Illustrated’s James Rapien and confirmed by NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero. Cincinnati reportedly will use its non-exclusive franchise tag on Higgins if the two sides can’t come to an agreement before March 4. By doing so, Cincy would have until mid-July to work out a deal. The expectation, though, is Higgins will not play on the franchise tag for a second season.

Higgins, arguably the top free agent if he hit the market, will not jump into the free agency pool. It serves as a brutal blow to the Patriots, who probably hoped to make a splash themselves.

Where do the Patriots go from here? It’s a complex answer to a simple question, but it boils down to spending the money they allocated for Higgins elsewhere. Elsewhere as in different positions and not just different wide receivers.

The worst thing New England can do is throw $30 million annually at a different free-agent wideout given veterans like Chris Godwin, Stefon Diggs, Keenan Allen and Amari Cooper aren’t worth what Higgins is.

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Instead, those finances can be spent on other top-of-market players who address other needs.

Veteran offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley, for example, is projected to earn a contract in the neighborhood of two years and $42 million. Stanley will enter his age-31 season, but is coming off a campaign in which he allowed two sacks in 1,062 snaps at left tackle, per Pro Football Focus. As the best offensive tackle set to hit the market, New England should make him one of its top priorities.

And then there’s the other side of the ball. Defensive tackle Milton Williams, who is projected to earn $12 million annually on his next deal, should elevate up on the Patriots wishlist as well. New England badly needs to add to its front seven and Williams could be a nice upgrade with Christian Barmore and Davon Godchaux. Perhaps the Patriots make a run at fellow Super Bowl champion Josh Sweat, a 27-year-old edge rusher who’s market value is projected to turn into a three-year, $56 million deal.

Those three players, all of whom represented some of the top talents available, become easier to fit with Higgins all but out of the picture.

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As it relates to New England’s need at receiver, Higgins was far and away the best option this offseason. While some aforementioned options remain on the open market — Godwin might be the best among them — the Patriots also could look to add through other avenues.

Trading for Cooper Kupp would give the Patriots a sure-handed receiver and security blanket for quarterback Drake Maye. Kupp will enter his age-31 season and isn’t the same player he once was, but he would still be New England’s top pass-catcher. It’s been speculated the Rams could take on some of Kupp’s salary and would only cost a Day 3 pick. That’s a no-brainer for the Patriots.

Other options like Deebo Samuel, DK Metcalf and Chris Olave might exist via trade, as well. But Kupp is a better short-term fit than Samuel while Metcalf and Olave would both cost more to acquire.

Instead, the Patriots should turn their attention to the 2025 NFL Draft. Franchise wideouts don’t come available on the open market, which the Higgins-Bengals situation proved. New England should remember that in April and target a wide receiver with a premium pick like a first or second-rounder. A few top prospects who come to mind: Travis Hunter, Tetairoa McMillan, Emeka Egbuka, Luther Burden III and Matthew Golden. With premium selections in the first and second rounds as well as a pair of third-rounders, New England has the ability to identify receiver talent and draft contributors.

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The dream for Higgins might be dead, but that just means the Patriots need to chase another one.

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