Patriots Rumors: Tee Higgins a great match, but not for No. 14 overall

A New England Patriots trade for Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins would be a nice thought for long-suffering Patriots fans who want an upgraded wide receiving corps. Rumors are swirling about the possibility.

Justin Leger of nbcsports.com has this to say about the potentiality,

"Pro Football Focus estimates it would take a 2023 first-round draft pick and a 2024 fourth-rounder to acquire Higgins this offseason. On Tuesday’s Early Edition, WEEI’s Khari Thompson and the Boston Herald’s Andrew Callahan debated whether the Patriots should consider that deal."

That’s a steep price this particular offseason for the New England Patriots. But it’s worth a good look to see how and why a trade under the right parameters might make sense for the Patriots. But it shouldn’t be at any cost. Let’s evaluate.

New England Patriots could really use Tee Higgins

Since Julian Edelman retired (and before), the Patriots have been bereft of a true No. One game-breaking receiver or even a facsimile thereof. Jakobi Meyers, seemingly on his way out the door for whatever reason in free agency, has been their best of late.

Problem is, Meyers is a nice complementary guy but a game-breaker, he is not. He’s a decent No. two receiver and a rock solid No. three if you could be so lucky. But he’s not what the club really needs.

The New England Patriots need that true game-breaker and they need it now. Whether they can manage to get it this offseason when they have so many other pressing needs is another story altogether.

The Patriots’ No. one pick, the 14th in the draft should be off the table unless a comparable or higher pick is available from another source. The way that becomes available could possibly be from a trade including Mac Jones with the most likely destination, the Las Vegas Raiders.

Whatever the outcome, the team needs a first-round pick to select a top offensive tackle. The team whiffed on its last chance when they selected Isaiah Wynn in the first round in 2018 (and actually passed on Lamar Jackson on his pick and later, as well).

Sending off that pick is really not debatable unless the team signs a top starting offensive tackle in free agency, e.g. Mike McGlinchey, and then takes a young tackle a bit later on. Gigantic Dawand Jones from Ohio State would be a great addition in that scenario.

New England Patriots and Tee Higgins are a great match

Higgins would be a top addition to the Patriots’ receiving corps for a whole host of reasons.  He ticks lots of boxes. First, he’s the big receiver at 6’4″ tall and 210 pounds that the team sought when it drafted N’Keal Harry, another first-round flop. But Higgins can play.

in 2022, he caught 73 passes with seven TDs, and 1029 yards. That production instantly makes him the Patriots’ No. 1 receiver. A trade also keeps the Patriots from falling on their collective faces again with yet another wasted top pick on a wide receiver. Just don’t do it.

Higgins is a bonafide No. one receiver, NFL-tested and successful. The only reason not to proceed would be the price.

A second and third-round pick this season or maybe a third this and a first or second next should be the heaviest freight the team should pay for Higgins unless they can shoehorn a player into the mix.

So the answer to a possible deal for Higgins is a strong, Yes. But … try to trade for him without giving up this year’s No. 1 pick, under almost any circumstances. The need for that offensive tackle has to take precedence.

What do you think of a trade for Tee Higgins and what would you be willing to see the New England Patriots give up? We’d like to hear.