6 High-Priced Free Agents Patriots Should Target With Bill Belichick Gone

1. Tee Higgins, WR

Mike Evans makes sense for the Patriots as a short-term wide receiver who can open up the passing game, but there’s another player out there who could be a more permanent solution. Tee Higgins, who is one of the top free agents on nearly every list, is likely leaving the Cincinnati Bengals and is Just 25 years of age. They’ve already committed a lot of money to their franchise quarterback Joe Burrow and will be extending fellow wideout Ja’Marr Chase soon as well.

That leaves little room for Higgins, who is more than capable of being a No. 1 wideout despite playing second-fiddle to Chase for much of his career. Listed at 6-foot-4 and 219 pounds, Higgins knows how to use his frame to win contested passes down the field. He went for more than 900 yards as a rookie and then topped 1,000 in each of the next two years.

In 2023, his stats dropped as he missed five games and Cincinnati lost Burrow but he still put up solid numbers with 656 yards and five touchdowns. He also had his highest yards per reception average, going for 15.6 yards per catch.

Whether Jerod Mayo goes with a rookie quarterback, runs it back with Bailey Zappe (not a great plan), or adds a bridge starter, Higgins would be an ideal go-to receiver. 

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