The New England Patriots have a significant need at wide receiver, and one standout option is Cincinnati Bengals receiver Tee Higgins, who could be the top free agent available this offseason and a primary target for Drake Maye next season. However, Higgins’ availability in free agency isn’t guaranteed, as the Bengals could use the franchise tag on him—something Bleacher Report’s NFL Scouting Department has predicted. Instead of signing him outright, Bleacher Report projects the Patriots acquiring Higgins via trade, with Cincinnati tagging the 26-year-old receiver and sending him to New England in exchange for picks 38 and 145.
This would mirror last offseason’s move by the Kansas City Chiefs, who franchise-tagged and traded defensive back L’Jarius Sneed to the Tennessee Titans for a third- and seventh-round pick. While the Patriots are in dire need of receiver help, they also have multiple roster holes to address, making it risky to trade two draft picks—especially a second-rounder—for a player who could be a short-term rental.
The article also highlights offensive linemen Jack Conklin and Joe Thuney as more realistic trade targets. Conklin could be moved or released following Myles Garrett’s trade request due to financial considerations, while a reunion with Thuney, a key part of the Patriots’ 2017 and 2019 Super Bowl wins, would make sense. While the Patriots should pursue Higgins if he’s interested, recent offseasons suggest that landing him may not be easy.
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